Europe’s voting for the right just as we're turning left!

You were very brave to bring up politics Mamie. I did that once with a group of women in Versailles back in the early 90s … never again.

mokryna

You were very brave to bring up politics Mamie. I did that once with a group of women in Versailles back in the early 90s … never again.

We started by discussing how difficult it was to find the papers you wanted with 38 candidates and then went on to discuss Macron's strategy - we didn't discuss who they supported!
They were very interested in the UK General Election.

French leftwing parties form ‘Popular Front’ to contest snap election

www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/14/french-leftwing-parties-popular-front-contest-snap-election

could be interesting, the left have always been strong and vocal in France.

And now Francois Hollande - the ex President who rode around Paris on a scooter to visit his mistress at night - has now come out of the woodwork to stand as a candidate! 🛵

Joseann Now we know why François Hollande sold his love scooter last weekend at an auction. 🛵 It sold for £17,000, way over its secondhand value.

Wow! £170k! That's so funny, mokryna!
No more va va voom for him then. 🛵

I have been reading about what seems to amount to a French Farce amongst the right and far right - perhaps Macrons strategy will work because even if they get into power - they sound as if they will be shown up for the total lack of policy and put together ideas. I suspect just like Farage.

But that seems to be the thing at the moment, Whitewavemark2. It's possible to win an election wherever you are, whoever you are, simply by being against what is currently in place.

You nailed it there Joseann
Always easy to say where a government’s going wrong but not so easy when you’re in the hot seat.There should be more than being anti something in order to gain power, but that’s the sort of world we’re in now.

Whitewavemark2

I have been reading about what seems to amount to a French Farce amongst the right and far right - perhaps Macrons strategy will work because even if they get into power - they sound as if they will be shown up for the total lack of policy and put together ideas. I suspect just like Farage.

It isn't plain sailing, but the left seem to being doing better in uniting in a block against the far right threat.

Yes I was reading that the right are fighting likes rats in a sack. And something about a little man locking himself in a government office and refusing to come out and when he eventually did they sacked him, so he threatened them with the law and now he has been reinstated.

Whitewavemark2

Yes I was reading that the right are fighting likes rats in a sack. And something about a little man locking himself in a government office and refusing to come out and when he eventually did they sacked him, so he threatened them with the law and now he has been reinstated.

That was the Républicains party, the equivalent of the Tories (well how the Tories used to be).

I've tried to get my head round the different right and left parties in France, but I can't, I'll keep on here in hope.

We went to one of the big markets here this morning and I was canvassed twice, which has never happened before in twenty years of living in France. I said I would vote for the "parti travailliste" on July 4th and after they had worked it out, we had a lively discussion about the elections and parties in both countries. They asked me what I thought of the vote in the European elections and we agreed it was a protest. Very interesting and they were amazed by how badly the "parti conservateur" were doing. 😮

Interesting Mamie. Protest is the right word in France!
I was also in conversation with French friends yesterday, and they were amazed that our candidates actually canvassed door to door.
Also, I was unaware that in France there is no possibility for a postal vote. I think even a French person living in London has to turn up at an appointed polling Station to vote.

I did see on TV a candidate canvassing in a small village, so it does happen. However I live in a flat, as do many people in a town, therefore it would be very difficult to gain entry. We have markets everyday so we can discuss points of view easily.

Apparently, door to door canvassing can increase turnout by nearly 10%. Though a French market seems a far more pleasant place to me!

Where I live even houses have walls/ fences around their gardens with locked gates, so it isn’t an easy case of knocking on a door, like in the UK.🇬🇧.

even small houses

Joseann

Interesting Mamie. Protest is the right word in France!
I was also in conversation with French friends yesterday, and they were amazed that our candidates actually canvassed door to door.
Also, I was unaware that in France there is no possibility for a postal vote. I think even a French person living in London has to turn up at an appointed polling Station to vote.

There were always quite a lot of procurations when I was on the conseil municipal. A lot of people were registered to vote in their home village even if working elsewhere so voting for various relations was common.

mokryna

Where I live even houses have walls/ fences around their gardens with locked gates, so it isn’t an easy case of knocking on a door, like in the UK.🇬🇧.

Yes, I love French walled gardens, wrought iron fancy gates, and the metal boîtes à lettres. ✉️ My friend here in a coastal new build in Brittany has an electric sliding affair in grey. Talk about Englishmen and their 🏰, the French have nailed that one!

Mamie
When French people have two more houses some decide where their vote will count more.

The French 2 news is reporting on a record level of procurations at this very moment!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.