The next Prime Minister of France?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm still hoping for Moscovici. Despite the despicable slanders the right is trying to spread about him, he is still the most competent for this job. The clarity of his thought, his knowledge of issues and his staunch but reasonable ideological positioning make him exactly what we need at the moment.

I'd rather avoid discussing about that until that other retard is still in place, however. Tempting the fate is never a good thing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'd rather avoid discussing about that until that other retard is still in place, however. Tempting the fate is never a good thing.

Hollande will lose because of this thread!

When every 30 seconds you can't help reminding yourself that Sarko could actually pull trough (whether 5%, 1% or 0.1%, the likelihood is irrelevant) and thinking what it would mean for the future of France, you can't discuss serenely about such matters.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Is it safe to assume there will be a majority in the national assembly after the June elections that will in fact elect a prime minister of Hollande's choosing? 

Based on past experiences, I'd expect the left to win. But after yesterday's results, my philosophy is "you never know".

[Antonio the Sixth]

We'll know in a few hours.

Most probably, it will be Ayrault.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Hollande to be sworn in right now.

Watching the N24 livestream.

PS: He already has the nuclear bomb codes.

Does French protocol actually required any oath, or it's just "here: nuclear codes, Legion of Honor, have fun, dude!"

No oath, but a series of little ceremonies (receveiving the Légion d'Honneur, the 21 cannon shots, the parade from the Elysée to Arc de Triomphe, etc...).

[Antonio the Sixth]

Pretty much confirmed to be Ayrault.

He could have chosen somebody who isn't against reunification. I guess I won't be voting PS in the first round then.

Reunification with what ?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Pretty much confirmed to be Ayrault.

He could have chosen somebody who isn't against reunification. I guess I won't be voting PS in the first round then.

Reunification with what ?

Brittany, of course. He's always been one of the few of Socialists from Loire-Atlantique to oppose it, when most have supported it.

It's a stupid reason, but since the choice of PM is pretty symbolic and useless, I chose a symbolic and useless reason. Of course, the mere fact that the UMP candidate here is Fredo Lefebvre should force anybody who has graduated grade 1 to vote for the PS candidate; even though there is probably a chance that Fredo won't even make the runoff given how the right here is divided beyond recognition.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I see... So typical Hash.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It's Ayrault.

[Antonio the Sixth]

It's Ayrault.

Pingvin is probably mourning right now, it's not Aubry, as for some reason he seems to like her very much.

Really ? Weird.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Government to be nominated at 4PM CEST. Aubry and Rebsamen are both out, Valls will apparently get Intérieur, Fabius will get Foreign Affairs. Not much else is known.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Government to be nominated at 4PM CEST. Aubry and Rebsamen are both out, Valls will apparently get Intérieur, Fabius will get Foreign Affairs. Not much else is known.

Delayed. This looks like a failure...

[Antonio the Sixth]

30 m to go.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Here we go :

Fabius on foreign affairs
Moscovici on economy
Peillon on education
Taubira on justice
Montebourg on industry
Sapin on labor
Valls on interior
Filippetti on culture
Le Drian on defense

[Antonio the Sixth]

Lots of new names among lower portfolios... François Lamy is in, too, probably on Aubry's request.

No greenie on Environment (it goes to Nivole Bricq). Duflot is the only one in there (Housing).

Najat Vallaud Belkacem is the spokeswoman.

Cahuzac has Budget.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Who is by now favourite to get National Assembly's presidency? Aubry, Royal...

Royal barring a major upset. She's made it clear that's the job she wanted, and Hollande has to give her something to make her quiet.

Aubry will keep the lead of the party until the next congress, in Septenber, then no idea.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Najat Vallaud Belkacem is the spokeswoman.

I looked her up... running in a probably hopeless seat, alas.

I don't know who invented this stupid rule for which a minister defeated in legislative elections has to resign. Ministers can't even hold a parliamentary mandate, so they should not run in first place.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I feel kind of sorry for Fabius. I mean, the dude is a former Prime Minister for 26 years now.

This asshole should have retired long ago. He's been a thorn in the side of the PS for decades.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Anyways, Fabius is the only "meh" news of the day (though it was to be expected). Other things seem fine. Moscovici on Economy is a great pick, so is Peillon on education and I think Valls is the kind of socialist which can do a good job on security issues and thus change the party's image. There are lots of "new" (or say, half-new) faces, which is a good thing for political marketing and means they are at least trying to do some kind of effort at renewing the political landscape. Overall, there aren't much surprises, but that's probably better so. It's probably better to have Aubry out, too, though I can't imagine she won't play any role in future.

So, yes, that's good enough. Of course, there's not much worth to put in this government. As usual, the legislatives will result in a little reshuffle, with possibly the need to deal with FG (and give something more to EELV) if the PS doesn't have an absolute majority, and the stupid requirement to fire "losing" ministers. The ridiculous quirks of French politics...

[Antonio the Sixth]

I feel kind of sorry for Fabius. I mean, the dude is a former Prime Minister for 26 years now.

This asshole should have retired long ago. He's been a thorn in the side of the PS for decades.

Fabius pissed me off big time in 2005.

He had become a specialist in flip-flopping, political tricks and schemes long before 2005. This was his masterpiece, undoubtedly.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I knew Hash would be pissed off regarding Taubira. I hate her too, anyways, since she is indeed ridiculously egocentric and, above all, is responsible for the 2002 disaster. And I really didn't see that coming. Pretty fun to see a radical coming above greenies in terms of protocol order.

Otherwise, we'll see how Montebourg will act in office, he's never held a major executive job so it will be interesting to see him talk less and act more (he's destined to fail anyways, considering the job Hollande gave him - trying to stop outsourcing - is a lost cause). Hopefully this will restrain his ego a bit.

Moscovici is definitely my biggest satisfaction, I've always liked him and considered him as one of the best people in the PS. I would have liked to see him as PM, but Bercy is an important job and he will do it well. Otherwise, as I said, many people of the "new generation" which might be promising for the party.

I don't know about Aubry, she might be a b*tch at the personnal level but politically speaking she has always been loyal to the party. Also, she's not deluded enough to think she will be able to run in 2017 (let alone 2022), so her best gamble might be to stay loyal and wait for Hollande to appoint her as PM after the difficulties of the beginning of his term.

So Vallaud-Belkacem isn't running after all ? Good, I guess. I still think this "defeated minister" rule is bullsh*t.

[Antonio the Sixth]

BVA polled the favorability of new ministers :

Valls 72-22
Sapin 66-26
Filippetti 65-25
Moscovici 65-27 (surprising considering the right's smear campaign)
Le Foll 63-25
Le Drian 62-26
Vallaud-Belkacem 61-30
Touraine 59-29
Peillon 58-33
Bricq 56-31
Lebranchu 55-34
Fabius 52-41 (take that ! )
Montebourg 50-42 (this, plus Valls, should make Gaël happy )
Duflot 47-45 ()
Taubira 46-46 (FAIL)

[Antonio the Sixth]

Who's the blonde woman in the dark suit with the long blue scarf standing behind Duflot? I like her style.

Delphine Batho, I think.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Valls is soooo obviously popular with right-wingers/frontistes. Not funny.

Is Valls as hateable as he seems?

I don't agree (at all) with his idea of what the PS should be, but as a person I'm starting to warm up to him a bit. I liked how he slapped Guéant in the face during his inaugural speech.