France General Discussion II: Living under Marxism

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A relatively "aggressive" speech. He is constantly slapping Sarkozy and the past government.

You'll get used to that, the British people have begun to tune that out when Cameron talks like that.

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Watching David Cameron and Francois Hollande speaking at Downing Street. The media keep asking why Cameron refused to meet Hollande in February. The awkwardness is palpable.

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A nice touch that Hollande could welcome Miliband with open arms after their other pleasant meeting in London in February. I guess they see a lot in each other (laughed off as nerdy gorps, getting to the top of their parties despite no one expecting it, hated by the righties in the establishment).

He hasn't had Cameron round at the Elysee either, so it's even more of a lol-ish move.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/24/ed-miliband-francois-hollande-elysee-palace_n_1698581.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

He's doing well so far.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/31/francois-hollande-digs-cameron-empty-olympics-seats-london-2012-games-corporate_n_1722541.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

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LOL, François Hollande is amazing.

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You can say what you want about Hollande, but he's got a wonderful wit.

And I'm glad he's willing to stick the knife in after the crap he got from the rightist EU leaders and the international media during the election campaign.

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Mmmh, maybe I should contribute actual stuff to this thread instead of letting it become the most boring commentary on HOLLANDE MET THE RANDOM GUY WHO'S LABOUR LEADER, HE'S SO KEWLL!111

Aha.

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If Fillion wins, he's running in 2017. Shocking.
http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2012/08/11/francois-fillon-2017-ump-candidature-presidentielle_n_1766972.html?utm_hp_ref=france

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If Fillion wins, he's running in 2017. Shocking.
http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2012/08/11/francois-fillon-2017-ump-candidature-presidentielle_n_1766972.html?utm_hp_ref=france

Fillon, not FillIon.

Embarrassing typo

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19261885

There's something about Valls which really reminds me of Sarko, although it's probably just me.

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The Légion d'Honneur has been exploited for political (and personal) purposes since its creation. Seriously, do right-wingers want us look back at Sarkozy's appointments ?

Lest we forget, Jean Charest is commandant de la Légion d'honneur. If a corrupt twat who has never done anything for France can have it, then I think EELV in its entirety can get it without there being any problem.

(and Luca would probably prefer to name some fascists instead, so...)

And he didn't know that Johnny Hallyday would earn it too...

Wow... that's nearly as much of a joke as the honours we give out.

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BTW, the government's approvals apparently have been plummeting in the past weeks. I'm not entirely sure, but it seems that it has to do with high gas prices and poor economic numbers (and the government's perceived lack of action).

Obviously their fault.

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Montebourg's right though. This is the problem with Greens, they're never satisfied.

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Hollande unveiled his tax plan yesterday.

After the worrying hesitations of the past weeks, this doesn't seem too bad. The main burden will really be on the wealthier, with a progressive taxation of capital gains, a cap in tax loopholes, a rise in the weath tax and in the highest income tax brackets.

Still, however, it fails to address the structural issues of the French taxation system. Sigh...

And I hear the richest guy in France has applied for Belgian citizenship.

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I find it unfair that any government should take anyone's money at all. Who are they to do that anyway ?

Without taxes, there's no government whatsoever, so...

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Francois Hollande lurches Right in historic U-Turn to save French economy

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At the risk of sounding like leftie-drone, this is awful.

Hollande can't risk making Sarko's mistake and driving his voters into the arms of MLP.

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Societal reforms are a good way to gain leftist credentials without having to spend much.

*cough* David Cameron *cough*

Exactly. Fine in opposition. In government it just looks like you're leaving the rest of the country to it.

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Mali?

http://www.liberation.fr/politiques/2013/01/28/les-sondages-un-peu-moins-mauvais-pour-hollande-et-ayrault_877399

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The bigger question for me is of the kind've country where the leader of the racist right has an approval rating in the 30s.

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With the new PS primary system from 2012, will Hollande have to be renominated by said system?

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Minister of Free Time is by far the most ridiculous thing they've ever come up with.

The "redressement productif" bullsh*t should be on that list too.

Not as bad as the UK's late, great Department for National Heritage.

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Some nutjob UMP Paris municipal councillor proposes the creation of a "rue Margaret Thatcher" (street)... In Paris... Seriously.

She would've despised such a suggestion... so DO IT.

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Some polls: in a hypothetical rematch Sarko leads the first round with 30% and Flamby tied with Le Pen at 22. Another poll has him beating Flamby 53-47 in the runoff with a 27-23-21 first round. Then there's stuff on Panzergirl.

Better than I'd expect actually for Hollande. Actually shocked MLP's that low.

Also, as if it's already been a year since the présidentielle.

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PS insulting Merkel in a policy paper, calling her "selfish" and the "chancellor of austerity", saying the EU is now an Anglo-German cabal (Anglo-German ultraliberalism?), etc. LOL Flanby.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/26/france-socialist-party-german-chancellor

What? Maybe it's just the British media, but haven't the French been far more lovey-dovey than David Cameron has been to Merkel?

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An elderly anti-gay activist appears to have shot himself in the head at Notre Dame. His last blog entry seemed to hold out hope that the 'Islamists' would repeal the law when they were 'in power.'

Oh my.

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Watching a BBC interview with Copé.

After having not really followed the UMP fiasco, I hadn't realised just how much you could mistake him for a FNist!