French Presidential Elections survivor - winner: 1974 !

[big bad fab]

A short one, to complete my French Referendums and Plebiscites survivor.
Of course, there are only elections with universal suffrage (though 1848 is universal only in name).
And I've included 2012, as we already know, more or less, that it will be Sarkozy vs PS in the 2nd round, with Aubry or DSK as candidate, with a threatening FN, a mildly disturbing Villepin, a good result for the Greens, but no big surprise in the 1st round.

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Please don't take into account only the winner... Like in Antonio's US presidential elections survivor, try to take into account suspense, campaign, 1st round, political consequences, etc.
It won't be easy for French voters, as many elections are interesting: some had boring 2nd rounds (1995, 2002), but fascinating first rounds; for others, it's the other way round (1969, 1981).
It won't be easy for foreign voters, as it's more difficult to know about the context.
Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this one.

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 1 IS OPEN !

In this round, you have 3 points to eliminate 3 different elections and 3 points to keep 3 different elections.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

Eliminate:

2012 (it will probably be boring, really)

1848 (who could have beaten LNB ?)

1988 (very difficult for me to vote for this one: Le Pen was a big surprise in the 1st round, but, otherwise, results were as predicted and Juquin would have been fun only if he could have finished above Lajoinie; the only interest in 1988 was long before the election, when many thought possible a 2nd round Rocard-Barre)

Keep:

1974 (so many killings inside the right before the 1st round, during the 1st round and during the 2nd round ! many candidates as soon as Pompidou died; Edgar Faure, Olivier Guichard, Pierre Messmer eventually not candidates; Chirac betraying Chaban; Royer threatening a bit Giscard; and a so tight 2nd round; and the first TV debate, which is still famous)

1995 (after all, it was really funny: Chirac vs Balladur was epic and Chirac's victory is epic; we forgot too easily that there was a real primary inside the PS between Jospin and Emmanuelli; and before that, Mitterrand killing Rocard in 1994; coward or lazy Delors announcing he wouldn't be candidate whereas he could well have won)

2007 (it was the first "americanized" campaign in France; Sarkozy's campaign was very professional but periodically threatened; Bayrou's rise was fascinating; Royal's epic victory in the primaries and epic fail afterwards were really cool; PS primaries themselves, with debates, were fantastic; it was a very long campaign and all the political life was entirely dominated by this; Villepin vs Sarkozy was great too, and Alliot-Marie tried, for some seconds, to be an alternative to Sarkozy)

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 2 IS OPEN !

In this round, you have 3 points, to cast 2-1.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

2 for 2012
1 for 1988

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 3 IS OPEN !

In this round, you have 6 points, to cast as you wish provided it's among 3 different elections.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

3 for 1988
2 for 1969
1 for 1981

[big bad fab]

With today news, 2012 really deserved to go early in this survivor .

(except if there is a surge by another right candidate, Villepin or Borloo )
(how I would have liked to write "or Juppé"...)

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 4 IS OPEN !

In this round, you vote for the election you want to eliminate.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

1988

[big bad fab]

I wait a bit for Hash.

BTW, don't forget he manages a fine blog on French electoral geography, including old maps on French plebiscites, for example:

http://www.freewebs.com/franceelgeo/

While voting here, do not hesitate to visit it !

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 5 IS OPEN !

In this round, you have 5 points, to cast 2-2-1.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

Hash has forgotten to vote... I should have PMed him.
But I don't think the result would have been different.

Now, it's really difficult for me, as every election has an interesting side.

2 to 1981
(yep, a BIG 2nd round, yep, many "revolutionary" votes: communists for Giscard, gaullists for Mitterrand; but there wasn't a very big suspense after the end of February... and, well, we have to pick one !)

2 to 2002
(well, this rule is bad for me, as I really want 2002 to last a bit longer... but, apart from Le Pen surprise, this election wasn't great)

1 to 1965
(of course, this is History, but suspense wasn't so big, even though de Gaulle was really disappointed after the 1st round, for some hours, and considered dropping !!)

(I've hesitated between 1965 and 2007, but it was so fantastic to live... PS primaries, Bayrou's rise, Royal's stupidity, Sarkozy's machine and periodical problems, "americanization", dramas between the 2 rounds, Royal-Sarkozy debate...)

[big bad fab]

Magic, 2 to 1995 I suppose and 1 to 1965 ?

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2
Round 5: 2002 10, 1995 8, 2007 6, 1965 3, 1981 3

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 6 IS OPEN !

In this round, you vote to eliminate 1 election and to keep 1 election.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

Eliminate 1981
Keep 1965

[big bad fab]

It seems as if 2007 is doomed
That's quite deserved, I must acknowledge. But, as I lived it "vividly" and as it was our first "American" campaign, I didn't want it to go early.
The problem is every single one election which remains is interesting in a way...

Let's wait for Hash's vote.
He deserves it. I give a priority to French guys here, as Edu had one in the Argentine presidents survivor.

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2
Round 5: 2002 10, 1995 8, 2007 6, 1965 3, 1981 3
Round 6: 2007 1, 1965 0, 1981 -1

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 7 IS OPEN !

In this round, you split your vote and vote to eliminate 2 elections.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

2007... What a campaign...
Daily polls, my friends, daily polls, for the first time ever in France !!!
How is it possible not to be nostalgic of such an election !

Anyway, a bad rule for this round:

1981
1995

Just because 1974 and 1965 are more interesting:
1974 was the most suspenseful and
1965 was the first really universal one and with de Gaulle almost dropping after the first round, plus media-prone Lecanuet and the resurrection of Mitterrand, who understood the Fifth Republic logic.

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2
Round 5: 2002 10, 1995 8, 2007 6, 1965 3, 1981 3
Round 6: 2007 1, 1965 0, 1981 -1
Round 7: 1995 6, 1965 3, 1981 2, 1974 1

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 8 IS OPEN !

In this round, you vote to eliminate 2 elections and to keep 1 election.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

Sorry for the delay.
The 14th of July is my birthday...

Eliminate:
1981
1974

Keep:
1965

[big bad fab]

Oh yeah, i hope you had a happy 40th birthday Fab

Yep, a great, great wine ! And very fine cheeses (though no Epoisses...)
Very lovely presents from my wife and my 2 boys.
And I've already felt old for some months now, so the birthday date itself wasn't too depressing ...

And I've solved recently one of the 2 BIG law problems in my family and in the family of my wife (many people aren't the same when they inherit money... that's amazing... hence, many obstacles and the need for me to "fight": but it requires so much energy and time !)

So, it was a good birthday. And the weather in Brittany is incredibly beautiful since the beginning of April and still is !!! (Hash and Antonio know what I'm referring to )

[big bad fab]

Château Léoville-Barton 1989.

The great, great wine.
A very, very fine Saint-Julien (from Médoc).

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2
Round 5: 2002 10, 1995 8, 2007 6, 1965 3, 1981 3
Round 6: 2007 1, 1965 0, 1981 -1
Round 7: 1995 6, 1965 3, 1981 2, 1974 1
Round 8: 1965 5, 1974 1, 1981 1

Rules:
Each round will last for 24 hours+.
In each round, the election which has received the biggest total of points will be eliminated.
In case of a tie, the election which has received the biggest total of points in previous rounds will be eliminated.
In case of a new tie, the most recent election will be eliminated.

ROUND 9 IS OPEN !

In this round, you vote to eliminate 1 election.
We'll eliminate the election which will have received the biggest total of points.

[big bad fab]

Funny... Each time, it was Giscard vs Mitterrand... The finest TV debates, BTW.

Eliminate 1981

1974 for the win !

(so much drama on the right, so much suspense and a real defining election for party structures (until 2002, apart from the FN), more than 1965 and 1981)

[big bad fab]

1848
1965
1969
1974
1981
1988
1995
2002
2007
2012

Results:
Round 1: 1848 6, 1969 5, 2012 3, 1988 0, 2002 0, 1995, -1, 2007 -2, 1981 -3, 1965 -4, 1974 -4
Round 2: 2012 8, 1969 6, 1988 2, 2002 2
Round 3: 1969 19, 1988 7, 2002 4, 2007 3, 1981 1, 1995 1, invalid vote (1848) 1
Round 4: 1988 3, 2002 2
Round 5: 2002 10, 1995 8, 2007 6, 1965 3, 1981 3
Round 6: 2007 1, 1965 0, 1981 -1
Round 7: 1995 6, 1965 3, 1981 2, 1974 1
Round 8: 1965 5, 1974 1, 1981 1
Round 9: 1981 4, 1974 2

SURVIVOR:
1974 !

With some young candidates or political actors...