2017 French Presidential Election

[Antonio the Sixth]

God I hate France. They get their first decent left-wing candidate in 15 years and they treat him worse than they treated the previous one...

Who are you talking about in both cases?

I understand Antonio's frustration about Hamon's predicament.

It's a year of truth, with a real right-winger as LR candidate and a real left-winger as PS candidate.

OK, and was he referring to Jospin in 2002?

Yes.

How are the two comparable though? Jospin said his own program wasn't socialist.

I'm definitely to his left ideologically, but he still did a lot for the working class (probably more than Mitterrand, for all his Molletist rhetoric) and was a paragon of integrity and uprightness in politics, which is a rarity for French leaders.

[Antonio the Sixth]

What about Royal? Was she a good candidate?

...seriously? Christ.

[Antonio the Sixth]

LOL, so this is basically the opposite of the Political Compass, where everyone is supposedly left-wing?

[Antonio the Sixth]

So it looks like my dream might very well come true. That's not a good thing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'll admit, part of me would love to see a Le Pen-Mélenchon runoff.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The way things are going, don't be too surprised if the run off ends up Lassalle - Asselineau

I'd sign for that!

The good thing about my candidate polling dead fifth is that I'm much less invested in what happens to the other four. Basically as long as Fillon is out of the runoff, I'll shrug it off.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I see Le Pen is rolling out some tried and tested Holocaust denialism today...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/politics/articles/2017-04-09/le-pen-says-france-not-responsible-for-nazi-s-vel-d-hiv-round-up

No she's not. She said she believed the French were not responsible for rounding up Jewish citizens for the Germans. That's not denial of the Holocaust. That's denial that France did anything to contribute to it.

As the article says, she was wrong, but what she said was nothing close to Holocaust denial.

It's denial of a particular event that contributed to the Holocaust. We can discuss semantics as much as you want but this is still vile.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Sarko plotting another comeback and believes Fillon is screwed. If Fillon loses, Sarko might lead the legislative campaign that if victorious could see a close associate (or maybe Sarko himself) become PM. Ultimate goal: another presidential run in 2022?

Way to make sure FBM is a two-term President!

[Antonio the Sixth]

The UK press are starting to talk about Melenchon; and it's leading to similar articles that I saw in 2012 where people said that Hollande winning was a good sign for Miliband (but obvs for Corbyn now)

That's terrible news for Ed Miliband.

[Antonio the Sixth]

With this recent poll numbers, I have a slight hope for some anti-establishment voters defecting from Le Pen enough to put Melenchon into the runoff...

Mélenchon vs FBM would make for a fascinating map, at least.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Anyway, seeing the PS at 7% because of "vote utile" is the epitome of schadenfreude.

I guess it can look that way if you care about muh party labels more than about having a President who's actually a good person and has the right policies.

[Antonio the Sixth]

God this guy looks insufferable. It's going to be a pain having him in the headlines for 5 years.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Antono: Would you consider voting for Melenchon, if he continues to poll around 3rd, to maybe have a leftist in the seccobd round.

Honestly, no. I'm sick of tactical voting. I've made my choice, and I'm going to vote for the only candidate running in this election who would actually made a good President.

Besides, Mélenchon is probably overpolling a bit at this point.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I found in a portuguese blogue this graphic which shows the support of immigrant sons to the different candidates: (Macron, Fillon and Hamon aren't in it, so don't know if it's shows an acurate picture but here goes.)



Portuguese immigrant descent are more likely to vote Le Pen... Yikes

...and Italians right behind. What the f**k.

[Antonio the Sixth]

About the Fillon's suits. After the controversy he claimed that he gave back the suits to the man who had offered them.

Mediapart says that Fillon did not gave back the real luxury suits, but gave back 3 others suits, less prestigious.

Robert Bourgi (who offered the suits) also says that Fillon asked him to lie.

This is just amazing. I mean wow.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The whole place is one giant Midwest.

hahahaha wtf

[Antonio the Sixth]

So from following the news, I would have to think that Le Pen and Macron are going to be advancing. However, let's entertain the thought that Melenchon surges, and it's him and Le Pen in the final round. Who would be likely to win?

Polls say Mélenchon, but I think it would be close.

[Antonio the Sixth]

John Oliver covered the election today an as a American may I say Le Pen's father is a f**king monster

Ah, I love it when newbies find out about the awfulness of French politics.

[Antonio the Sixth]

F**k strategic voting.

[Antonio the Sixth]

https://youtu.be/hkZir1L7fSY

hahahaha larry skywalker omg

[Antonio the Sixth]

F**k strategic voting.

Didn't you lambast voters for voting for Stein, or at least told people, to vote for Clinton to defeat Sanders?

Would you say the same thing, if Hamon was in this position instead of Melenchon? I think before you were saying, that Melenchon voters should vote for Hamon, or am I wrong?

Pretty sure I didn't "lambast" anyone, no. But anyway, I'd argue that the conditions are a bit different here than in the 2016 US race.

Of course I'd urge Mélenchon voters to vote for Hamon. I still think Mélenchon voters now should vote for Hamon, because Hamon is the only candidate in this race who is a good person and would actually be a good President.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Can we actually post the entirety of the polls and not just MUH BIG 4 here please? Some of us are still invested in how Hamon is doing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Thanks. Ugh.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Man, I was hoping that Assileneau surge would maintain. He was my dark horse for surprise small candidate.

I bet on Lasalle

Fingers crossed!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Man, I was hoping that Assileneau surge would maintain. He was my dark horse for surprise small candidate.

I bet on Lasalle

Fingers crossed!

As someone of Bearnais/French Basque descent I agree

Tbh I'd vote for Lassalle over most of the "reasonable" candidates. He's definitely a weirdo, but he's also incredibly genuine and his proposed politices are pretty good overall.