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A DRUBBING FOR France’s divided Socialists by the centre-right is a bad omen for President Francois Hollande two years ahead of a presidential election as the far-right continued to grow in power.
The Socialists lost 28 councils in local elections yesterday, nearly half of those it controlled, prompting soul-searching on the left and triumph from former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s opposition centre-right.
“The slap”
“It’s clearly yet another protest vote … and the situation is becoming very difficult two years out from the presidential election,” said Frederic Dabi, from polling institute Ifop.
“The slap,” declared Le Parisien daily, under a picture of a glum-looking Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
The right-leaning Le Figaro said the government had “suffered a fourth and humiliating electoral defeat. For the prime minister, it’s a tough blow.”
The election defeat was all the more embarrassing as the left lost power in the political heartlands of both Hollande and Valls.
Valls, who campaigned hard during the local elections, with bitter attacks on Sarkozy and the far-right, acknowledged the vote was a setback but vowed to continue with his programme of reforms to pep up France’s struggling economy.
There will be “new measures to boost private and public investment”, said Valls in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
Dress rehearsal
But already there was sniping from a rebel left-wing faction within the Socialists, which has already defied the government on several issues in recent months.
One rebel, Jerome Guedj, urged a change of course, saying: “Otherwise, tonight will just be a dress rehearsal for what is going to happen to us in 2017,” when the next presidential election is held.
We can’t keep driving into the wall, speeding up and beeping our horns,” said Aurelie Filippetti, a former minister who lost her job in a cabinet clean-out of rebels.
‘Base for great victories’
Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National (FN) failed in the end to win full control of a council but won dozens of council seats in what their leader called a “magnificent success”.
“It’s the base for tomorrow’s great victories,” said Le Pen, referring to another set of regional elections in December and the presidential vote in 2017.
Political analyst Jean-Yves Camus noted that Sunday’s departmental elections are “a less favourable (type of election) for the FN … because you need a local base and because of the way the vote is organised.”
In several regions, voters on the left and right joined forces to keep the FN out of power, despite calls from Sarkozy to abstain rather than support the Socialists.
The FN is a free and independent force. Of course it’s more complicated but our scores are rising quickly. In reality, the FN has scored a real victory in these local elections,” she told iTELE rolling news channel.
Sarkozy rises
But Sarkozy still emerged as Sunday’s real winner, countering criticism of an uncharacteristic lack of energy since his political comeback last year.
Never… has our political family won so many councils,” Sarkozy told supporters cheering “Nicolas, Nicolas”, adding that voters had “massively rejected the policies of Francois Hollande and his government.”
Sarkozy hasn’t officially announced he will stand for the presidency in 2017 but few doubt that he harbours a burning desire to reclaim the keys to the Elysee that he lost to Hollande after a bitter campaign in 2012.
But the former president faces his own difficulties, with a number of legal woes, particularly related to campaign spending, that may yet trip up his path back to the top job.
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No surprise after the recent shootings in France, people are becoming more nationalist and are fed up with mass immigration into their country. The common belief among many is that the immigration into the country of so many legal and illegal immigrants has led to the unchecked rise of fundamental Islamics.
The election was principally about the economy. A return of support to Sarkozy is hardly radical.
In every single French election, the story is always about how the far right are going to take over. Never happens though does it?
A return of support to Sarkozy would mean that the French Public are even more stupid than we are – a fact which genuinely surprises me.
The FN won 1.5% of seats and not a single department. Hardly the “triumph” that Le Pen is proclaiming and that (too many) journalists are accepting without question.
Have there ever been any successful leftist governments? Struggling to think of any, and also struggling to understand why people keep getting fooled by leftist’s empty promises after so many failures.
“Have there ever been any successful leftist governments? Struggling to think of any, and also struggling to understand why people keep getting fooled by leftist’s empty promises after so many failures.”
Nordic countries reflect mostly left policies.
Current Bolivia government has improved their society 10 fold.
Despite been closed off from trade for over 60 years Cuba is doing grand on its own, considering north Korea is the right wing example of been closed off.
Every socialist country since the 50s has been bullied by a much larger group or power. Cuba by america. Venezuela by america. Greece by Europe etc…
Have a look at Venezuela
Venezuela is been crippled by the US population that consumes cocaine. Look at the latest vice hbo special.
East Germany was the most “successful” socialist government ever. And yet, their productivity and living standards were only one-fourth of West Germany.
And by the way, this is the reason why the state “encouraged” pretty much every woman straight back to work after having a child by providing subsidized daycare. Basically because they had to. If output per head is only one fourth, you can close the gap somewhat by doubling the workforce.
“Cuba is doing grand on it’s own ” WOW
You’re standards are obviously pretty low!
No cocaine in Ireland..
“East Germany was the most “successful” socialist government ever…”
What you are doing is pointing out the failures of militarily enforced Communism. Hardly destroys the standpoint that left-leaning governments and ideals can be successful, especially when the leftist Nordic countries were described by the Economist as “probably the best governed in the world”.
Jason the point is East Germany moved leftward away from capitalism, and the result was relative poverty.
The Nordic countries are left leaning capitalist countries, with very generous welfare and redistribution systems. The Nordic countries are successful because they are so good at capitalism, ie have a high capital stock and companies that can export high quality goods. Without the redistribution policies, they would be even more successful as there would be lower taxes and higher domestic consumption. The point is the Nordic countries are successful DESPITE the socialist policies being a giant parasite on their backs.
Sorry Jim I live in one of those Nordic countries and the success is because of the system. A system that allows for free education to provide a highly qualified workforce. A social net that enables a highly mobile workforce who don’t have to fear destitution through unemployment. As far as calling the former Soviet Block and especially East Germany as “socialist” is simply incorrect. They were totalitarian states not democracies and at its heart socialism is about democracy, human rights, freedom of speech etc., all those things you dont’t find in so called “socialist” staes such as North Korea and the former DDR. Trust me when you can see clearly that the money you spend on high taxes is actually benefitting you and your family through low crime, subsidised, affordable, daycare, healthcare and the like, when you see politicians losing their seats for being caught drunk driving because they broke the law you realise this so called socialist state isn’t quite the bogeyman many make it out to be. And by the way before I came here I was a dyed in the wool right wing but seeing how the system here works I changed my thinking.
East Germany never moved leftwards away from capitalism. It was a state established from the very beginning as an Authoritarian Communist regime under the military force of the Soviet Union. You’re being completely disingenuous with the facts. In fact, the Nazi regime which came before could hardly be described as capitalist as the state exercised heavy control over the economy.
As the above commenter mentioned, the Nordics are successful because of their system and not in spite of it as you said. Highly skilled workforce due to free education, high mobility in the workforce and incredibly low levels of wealth inequality while also maintaining a remarkably low prison population. Compare that to the good old US where average education is poor,mobility of the workforce is mediocre at best, massive wealth inequality and prison population levels while healthcare and social protection are both equally terrible.
You’re both missing the point. The Nordic countries became successful capitalist countries first, built up their human and financial capital through capitalist principles of innovation, investment & risk taking. THEN, post-war, a giant socialist parasite grew on the back of this, and more and more wealth was transferred. Look at entrepreneurial rates in these countries. Shockingly low. In France, the most desired profession is the civil servant. People prefer now to live off the sugar daddy state.
What you dont see is that all the virtues you mention about these countries was built initially on capitalist foundations, and is now being weighed down by socialist policies.
What socialism failing again? What a shocker. As is so often the case the right will have to come in and pick up the pieces.
Like labour, the socialist party may claim to be socialist in France but their track record suggests otherwise
A left wing nation is no nation at all
It’s a united nation. Like the people of greece for example
It’s a hungry nation, like the people of Greece perhaps.
Luckily the brand new government is saving the day by passing anti poverty legislation
“It’s a hungry nation, like the people of Greece perhaps.”
Tell that to the Nordics.
We may see the first far right government in the European union. A lot of policies fron this national party would resonate with hitler.
I would also stop considering Hollande to be left wing his track record suggests otherwise
First comment and already Godwins law is met.
Which policies specifically would resonate with Hitler?
Certainly the smear you are attempting would resonate with hitler.
The first stop on the idiot express is Hitler reference ville.
Their immigration and law policies are very similar to hitler, what policy do you find that doesn’t resonate with the extreme right?
http://theconversation.com/the-french-front-national-is-still-an-extreme-right-wing-party-20983
In his defence he done it just as quick as right wing commentators mention Stalin
So some of their members are racist, that it? You know Hitler did a little more than say mean things about black people, right? Any articles linking them to systemic slaughter of minorities, or maybe a plan to send the French army on holidays to Poland to actually back up your original claim?
Egg head hitler and his party were very peaceful before gaining power. Many members are racist as is their leader which is the most concerning. Bit odd you are defending racists.
Am I defending racists? I thought I was ridiculing you.
Yes are you? Think what you want but conversations go both ways
Smear filled junk. No wonder you think as you do if that is your source of information.
Or are you secretly not really sure what your saying? It’s anyone’s guess
It’s pretty clear. The national front have similarities to the nazi party. Justice and immigration policies along with many racisct members confirm this
What about their justice and immigration policies are like the nazis? You say “It’s pretty clear” and then don’t outline anything at all.
No tolerance stance to justice and building of new prisons to accomodation them
Closing of borders to immigrants
Blind racism by many of their party members including their leader
Kevin. You are offensive to intelligence. Hitler and the Nazis were not peaceful prior to their rise to power. That is so dumb, I’m not even going to bother referencing the evidence.
I dub you Clownius dumbassius
hahaha so building new prisons and wanting to secure your own borders now puts you in the same class as Adolf Hitler! Give me a break!!
I dub you eric. National front are borderline fascists and have similarities to the nazis.
Never claimed they are the same so no need to be a biggus dickus
Do you know what zero tolerance is?
Do you know what freedom of movement in the eu is?
Ever heard of a refugee?
I know what zero tolerance is, they have it in New York, or the east coast Reich as nobody has ever called it. Wouldn’t be a fan, but zero tolerance and national socialism are quite different things.
I know what free movement of labour in the EU is too. That’s the thing that every single EU government bar us, the UK & Sweden decided to restrict a few years back when 10 new states joined, right? Don’t remember the concentration camps though.
This isn’t going very well for you kevin!
Not going well? It’s not going anywhere with all these eggs
Anybody who disagrees with you Kevin is a Nazi, right?
So go on Kevin, I think you’ve been asked enough times for parallels between NF & the nazi party beyond some members saying racist things. Preferably things that aren’t practiced currently in numerous EU & EEA states like restricting immigration or adopting harsh stances on justice matters.
I’m awaiting top cats reply
More than welcome to disagree but defending racists is odd
“First comment and already Godwins law is met.”
Actually, Godwin’s Law is not applicable in this case as the topic is closely related to far-right ideology. In this case it’s pretty much impossible to discuss the increasing popularity of far-right ideology in Europe without the conversation involving Hitler on some level.
Godwin’s Law only applies to discussions where a reference to Hitler would not be easily justifiable, such as a discussion on movie reviews.
Nobody is defending racists kevin, they are just pointing out that your original comparison to Nazis was ridiculous. After numerous requests, you have only managed to back this up by showing some of their members are racist (is there an organisation on earth with no racist members?) and then by highlighting policies that are quite popular across the western world like restricting immigration and taking a tough stance on crime.
You’ve completely failed to support your point, you wont withdraw it, and are now accusing anyone who disagrees as defending racists. It’s nonsense Kevin, it was a stupid comparison to begin with and your pathetic defence is not lending it any legitimacy.
I look at myself as being left wing, my brother commenting above would be centre-right. Yet we both agree the national front has similarities with the Nazi Party. If you cannot see this that your own loss just don’t be so quick to defend populist racists.
“and are now accusing anyone who disagrees as defending racists.” No I am merely highlighting my confusion as to why you are defending racists such as the national front
I’m not defending FN, I have no love at all for national front parties. I’m just arguing against your comparison, that once again you fail to support. Just because someone with slightly different political affiliations to you agrees with you does not support your point. You compared FN to Nazis, you were asked to support your point by a few different people, and you failed rather spectacularly.
Pointing out holes in your arguments is not the same thing as supporting FN, just like opposing immigration is not the same thing as systematically slaughtering 6 million people.
Ok I swore to myself I would never comment on this site again but this is just ridiculous. This isn’t Godwin’s Law and this isn’t a ridiculous comparison. Front National aren’t just “like” nazis, they actually are Nazis. Le Pen entered politics by running the presiential campaign of a prominent member of the Vichy Regime. He has insisted in rehabilitating collaborators, has made money off nazi music, and has repeatedly denied the holocaust or at least the extent of the holoacaut, as have many other members of FN. The party plays the anti-immigration and anti-extremism line when their roots lie in the opposition to Algeria’s secession, and they have repeatedly associated with Islamist groups, including the precursor to Erdogan’s party. FN was formed by a collection of Nazi collaborators, Vichy regime members, associates of these people, and the leaders of the OAS which carried out terrorist attacks in the 1960s as well as attempting a coup and attempting to assassinate Charles de Gaulle.
There are plenty of parties around the world that could be referred to as neo-nazis, but there are almost none that are actual nazis. Front National is one of those. They’re not necessarily nazis because of their current election manifesto, it’s because the party itself.
Hollande is the Equivalent to Monotone Joan Burton. A right winger with an itch on the left cheek of his arse that he occasionally scratches when he need to . Imposters
75% Income tax rate not left wing enough for you? Or is he only left wing if he is succeeding?
Increasing income tax is not a left only policy. You are quick to forget FG increased income tax and so did most right wing eu countries since 2011
- Abortion
- Gay Marriage
- Bloated Public service
- Mammoth Social Welfare programme
- Introduction of new taxes & charges (LPT & Water Charge)
- Tax Increases (both USC & Income tax, as you point out)
- Irish passports given out as prizes to asylum seekers.
- Increased nanny state control (plain packaging, minimum pricing, school vending machines)
Fine Gael are not a right wing party.
Of course a mere increase in income tax is not neccesarily left wing although the right typically favour minimum amounts of taxation but a 75% Income tax rate is most definitely a socialist policy.
Increasing wealth poor divide
Replacing progressive taxation for regressive
Privitisation of public services
Cuts for welfare and oaps
Lowering income tax for top rate earners
Facilitating a low Corp tax regime where multinationals pay next to nothing
The production of quangos
Many fg tds are landowners
Criminalisation of woman wishing to have an abortion
Criminalisation of drugs
Ignorance towards ethnic minorities and undocumented workers.
FG are right wing and always have been. They were founded as a fascist party for god sake
According to the OECD Ireland has the most progressive income tax system in the EU.
What have they privatised?
Total social welfare expenditure in 2015 will be €19.415 billion is that not enough? There are no changes to the rates of primary weekly social welfare payments and pensions.
Our low corporation tax attracts hundreds of millions of investment to the country and employs thousands of Irish people.
Production of quangos is anything but right wing. The right believes in smallest government possible and little state interference in things.
Owning land is now right wing?!
FG are the only party to have introduced any form of abortion to the island, despite promising not to.
Criminalisation of drugs, pretty sure they were already criminalised when they got there!
“Ignorance towards ethnic minorities and undocumented workers.” LOL We’ve had a 53% increase in asylum seekers under Fine Gael.
Production of quangos is anything but right wing? Bahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahah
Every irish quango since the foundation of the state has been implemented by a right wing government.
What party do you consider right wing in irish politics ?
According to the OECD Ireland now ranks 37th out of 41 when it comes to children in poverty. We can all select stats to suit our arguments.
There are none. If you want to see what real right wing party’s look like then you half to look abroad to places like the states and the UK.
Todd I was responding directly to Kevin suggesting we don’t have a progressive tax system when OECD says ours is the most progressive in the EU.
Why haven’t you created a party yet then top cat? Do you not participate in irish politics?
I’ll never get an answer to this one.
Simply put Kevin I don’t have the wherewithal or charisma it takes to run a political party! I would certainly canvass for one should a real right wing alternative ever be created.
Sounds like renua is the one for you. That or the killiney land league
The fact is in practise no one wants a far right government nor a far left 99% of people regardless of what party they support are centrist
If you get 99% green thumbs you may be right
Yes Thomas you are correct, however what is classed as far-right today was viewed as common sense by all parties on the political spectrum and the media up to a few years ago, a desire to limit and control immigration is not far-right. Indeed the present political and media climate in Europe now would rightly be viewed as a strange collective madness. Perhaps all those earnest young men and women who joined young communist/socialist parties decades ago were indeed programmed as tools of the Soviets in the Cold War, tools to undermine the West: how many of those men and women hold prominent positions in Law and the Media today? Either way to move from a position of healthy nationalism to a point where to reject both multi-culturalism and possible future minority status in your own country is somehow akin to fascism seems strange and unnatural.
Centre right governments = best solution in an imperfect world with imperfect people
What irish parties do you consider centre right?
Just read that 7 out of 10 councils are still left wing
This ping pog match of left or right is becoming fast immature, idealistic and simplistic given our politicians abilities to sing very different tunes once in power. David Mc Williams offered up a very good perspective of where politics is really at these days, and I tend to agree with him completely. Your either insider or outsider, and regardless of what captures the imagination of the electorate on the day, there’s only one big game in town. http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/2015/03/30/why-are-we-sacrificing-greece-for-the-insiders
Outsider = left
Insider = right
Cookooland= extreme right
Communism = extreme left
05 – 16 yrs; extreme right
16 – 19 yrs; right
20 – 30 yrs; leftish dependent on collage education
31 – 40 yrs; rightish dependent on working environs
40 -50 yrs; leftish again dependent on family circumstance
50 – 70 yrs; centrish regardless of family circumstance
70 – 100 yrs; couldn’t give a rats ass
Top Cat Hollande is a imposter just like Joan. The middle classes are been wiped out in Britain America all over Europe. Next up is Germany. You see top cat the real elite don’t need middle classes anymore . Sacrificial lambs is all they are and they will be pushed down to the bottom to join the rest of us. The biggest transfer of wealth in human history I happening. What have you got out of it son notion you are part of their click. The real elite not the jumped up egotistical elite that aren’t fit to lace their boots are going down keep supporting your own extinction I doubt your a multi millionaire or you probably wouldn’t be on here with multiple names talking up the facilitation of your own spiral into poverty. Try and keep up with reality.
The biggest wealth transfer in human history? Never in human history has the common man on the street been so obscenely wealthy as westerners are currently. These evil schemes by the “elites” have been predicted for decades, and during that time we all keep getting richer. Are the elites lulling us into a false sense of security, or are they just really bad at this evil conspiracy lark?
If Joan of Arc were around today she would be described as a right wing racist.
Good on you Marine Le Pen, I wish we had someone with your courage and integrity in Ireland.
Well done to Ms le pen and front national, their continued success will see them victorious in the end
Comforting that the crazy nationalists in FN didn’t capitalise too much. SF have a similar strategy of flag waving, hoping it will distract people from their inherent nastiness.
I see that “the pillar of mud” Is the Hungarian translation of the name of Mr. Sarkozy… A crazy thing to google… Always thought he was a little sh…e anyway…
Political elites in Europe still have not understood that people are tired of one policy that has seen the elites circle the wagons and everyone else pay for their mistakes.
Of course they will protest through the ballot box. They have no other voice.
I am just watching out for the civil war, as that might be on the cards if Le Pen gets in as immigration issue might explode into riots but it is a thought?
have your say