France 2012: Official Results Thread

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

I'm not really well versed in French politics. Why/how did Le Pen do so well?

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Hollande was "elected" based on a 4 point spread in an exit poll?  If so, all I can say is no one would so call an election based on that in the US.

European exit polls tend to be a lot more on the mark than their American counterparts. I suspect it's because turnout is a lot higher so there's little difference between "likely" and "registered voters" in France and other Europeans nations.

To all the naysayers: Hollande isn't in office yet. We have to see how he will govern and how effective he is.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Does it really matter who runs France?  I mean, isn't the international economic/debt leash on it so tight now, that the government's only big decision is what color of pencils to use?  Just asking.

Hollande appears to be more in favor of expansionary policies at the expense to Debt/GDP, but still wants to run a surplus by 2017. If he could pull it off, France, not Germany, would be the economic engine of Europe.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Lozère

24,036 - 23,991. So close!

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Yeah, we won. That's great. But still pathetically close. This is unfair, so unfair.

You beat an incumbent and are complaining about the margin if victory? Really? If you transplanted the current PV totals into the American electoral college you'd probably get a win in the low 300s, which while not a landslide, is a strong win. Be happy with your victory.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

52.67% for Hollande in Sarthe.
He takes La Reunion with 71%
53.8% for Sarko in Meause

Do all of these little provincial numbers fit the pattern as it were?  Numbers without patterns are like shoes without socks.

Hollande should do well in Western/Central France, while Sarkozy should do well in the East.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Yeah, we won. That's great. But still pathetically close. This is unfair, so unfair.

Be happy with what you get!

You won. Your guy gets to run things.

Yeah, I know, I'm naturally pessimistic.

But still, a victory wasn't enough tonight. We needed a great victory. This is a pyrrhic one.

Likely beating Mitterrand's margin is a Pyrrhic victory? Are you serious?