France General Discussion II: Living under Marxism

[MaxQue]

Do we already have hints as to who will lead the main lists in the constituencies ? I know talks have started, but I don't hear much.

I saw things about Île-de-France, but not much more.

[MaxQue]

In other news, I've been purged from my party. More about this tomorrow if I can get some sleep in the mean time...

It's the issue with the personality cults.

[MaxQue]

In other news, I've been purged from my party. More about this tomorrow if I can get some sleep in the mean time...

What party is that? FG? Do they actually purge people like in the good old days?

FG doesn't have physical members, it's a coalition of parties. People are membre of one of parties (PCF, PG or one of the small ones like Gauche Unitaire).

[MaxQue]

15 is perhaps too much of a drop, but a logical map would fall at 19, I think (dissolution of Pays de la Loire and Picardie and Normandies merger).

[MaxQue]

Fabius is the most popular? ROFL

Well, foreign affairs is a blessed office. Who dislike a foreign affairs minister?

[MaxQue]

17%... I don't understand why the Socialist Party seems to avoid a massive defeat in the next elections.

Because people don't like Copé much either. Or because they like their socialist mayor, unlike their president?

[MaxQue]

Mélenchon has pissed off too many people, more so than Le Pen.

Fabius and Ségo are being touted for PM. LOL.

Wasn't Fabius like... PM under Mitterand? Now that is what I call longevity...

Yes, 1984 to 1986.

[MaxQue]

Greenies won't be part of the Valls government despite Valls's promise to create a 'big' environment ministry including transport and energy matters, to give them three portfolios and to introduce a bit of proportional representation.

Perhaps this will be a blessing in disguise for EELV, who can try and grab some protest votes from disenchanted left-wingers who dislike Vallis.

Are EELV's polls purely because they were attached to Hollande, or did they do some other dreadful electoral faux pas?

They are polling very decently for a government party.

[MaxQue]

Greenies won't be part of the Valls government despite Valls's promise to create a 'big' environment ministry including transport and energy matters, to give them three portfolios and to introduce a bit of proportional representation.

Perhaps this will be a blessing in disguise for EELV, who can try and grab some protest votes from disenchanted left-wingers who dislike Vallis.

Are EELV's polls purely because they were attached to Hollande, or did they do some other dreadful electoral faux pas?

They are polling very decently for a government party.

aren't they predicted to lose like half their MEP's?

Yes, but the 16% of 2009 were exceptionnal and often attri uted to the diffusion of the movie "Home" a few days before the election and the fact than PS was stuck in a painful leadership process. 10% would still be among their best results.

[MaxQue]

Montebourg at Economy? It's April 1st late?

[MaxQue]

Wasn't Minute a far-right newspaper, at a point? Or it's another battle in the FN war between the old guard and the young newcomers?

[MaxQue]

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Is there a single success that we will remember from Hollande presidency in 10 years? For now, in two years and a half they only did one thing, and it's Taubira who did it.

Montebourg wanted to nationalize the Florange factory. At least it was something. What's better, a nationalized factory or no factory at all? If it had failed then it would have been its responsibilty, but he has not even been allowed to try, and everyone else is watching without doing anything.

This not related, but I have to praise Fabius for doing his job. He does not talk too much to the media, he's not getting involved in national politics, but thanks to him France is involved in every international issue.

Yeah, I've got to give credit to Taubira for one thing: she might be an insufferable pretentious asshole, but she does stick to her guns. And that's a pretty big deal in a government full of useless wimps. She didn't back down on SSM and she didn't back down on judicial reform, so kudos to her for that. Still that's far from what France needs right now.

As for Montebourg, sorry but no, nationalizing a factory is a f**king stupid-ass idea. Thank God Hollande shut him down, because the last thing France needs right now is the wasting a sh*tload of money to save doomed economic activities. This is this sort of pseudo-activistic bullsh*t (of which Sarko was also fond of) which embodies all that's wrong with French politics. Saving a factory will do a great NOTHING to actually solve the structural problems of French economy. At best, it will buy the workers a couple years before someone else will decide to shut down the plant because that's the economically rational thing to do. And all while costing the State millions that it could actually have placed on productive investments instead. Sure, you can make yourself feel good about having saved a couple workers, and this can be great PR for the media, but it's completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

France already have one right-wing party (UMP). They don't need a second one, especially one pretending to be "socialist".

[MaxQue]

In other news, Dupont-Aignan "gaullist" cult party "Debout la République" (Arise the Republic) renamed itself "Debout la France" (Arise the France).

[MaxQue]

I don't want to make a parallel, but a book, a background in contradiction with ideas...., it's creepy.

[MaxQue]

What's going on with Melonchon and Assassins Creed?

The game depicts Robespierre as an evil dictator, but, for some reason, the far-left in France likes to consider him like an hero.

[MaxQue]

Well, it's Frédéric Miterrand. At least, it's not Thai boys this time.

[MaxQue]

I suppose the big winner of that is Juppé or has his star fallen in the last months?

[MaxQue]

That's hardcore trolling from him.

Especially the part about marrying Aliot or Philippot.

Aliot is already her partner since 2009, while Philippot is gay. Let's consider FN has five vice-president, why naming only those two?

[MaxQue]

Well, he is still umpopular from his time as President and I suppose some are afraid he would end 3rd in the next presidential election.

Leading to a PS-FN runoff.

[MaxQue]

A Jewish municipal councillor in Créteil has been murdered in his apartment.

Police doesn't exclude antisemitism as a mobile.

Let's say I'm troubled.

[MaxQue]

Question: why do left-wing French posters seem to hate PS so much?

Because gay marriage is pretty much the only thing in their program they accomplished?

Rest of term was liberal reforms to appease Merkel/employer association/EU/"increase competivity".

Their European policy is also pretty much always side with Merkel and berate Italy for trying to organise a left-wing alternative. Also, endorsing ND over SYRIZA and complaning about the "unstable" left-wing coalition in Portugal.

And now, they want to authorize a permanent state of emergency and lower civil liberties (allowing raids without warrants, among other things) because "Charlie Hebdo and Bataclan". Also, they used the anti-terrorist legislation (passed after November events) to do raids and arrest people in ecologist organisations opposing expropriations and construction of a big airport in Nantes. Also, they pretty much tried to ban all demonstrations, because "national security".

Really, I don't see why left-wingers would be annoyed.