FRANCE : FIGHT STARTS FOR PRESIDENTIALS IN 2017 !

Three major problems preoccupy the whole of all politics in France at the moment:

1)  The rising popularity during the last ten years of the National Front party (FN) in all recent Elections.
2)  The critical economic condition of France after almost three years of guidance by President François Hollande.
3)  How can one become a Candidate at the next Presidential Elections which will take place at the latest in early May 2017 ?

After his election President François Hollande created a left wing Coalition Government but this has now been slowly re-orientated towards the centre-right with the nominations of Valls as Prime Minister and Macron as the Minister of the Economy !  Left wing Ministers like Montebourg have been replaced and "Green" coalition partners have decided to withdraw.

Hollande's Presidency has not really been appreciated.  Even Socialists have criticised increased taxation while the Eurozone now wants more and stricter controls of national "overhead" costs by France.  Hollande's popularity rose temporarily because of his Foreign Policy in Africa and his reaction to Extreme Muslim Terrorist acts in France, but this alone will not ensure his re-election in May 2017 !

Nicolas Sarkozy has made a much publicised and orchestrated return to the Political Scene in France this year after his defeat by Hollande in 2012.  His aim was to become the "Saviour of the Right" but his acclaim is falling short of what he wanted and expected !  His former Ministers and allies also have the same burning personal ambition, to be a candidate in the Presidentials in 2017 !

There are potential Candidates on the Left and others on the Right and for several the next Presidential Election will be their last chance !  However, they all face the looming problem of Marine Le Pen and the National Front because she will definitely be a Candidate and her Party (FN) has obtained about 30% of the votes in recent elections !

What will they do to "prevent" her being elected as President ?   Will  the Left and the Right again make  "unholy alliances" to prevent FN candidates being elected in the subsequent General Election ? 

Next week there are municipal elections coming up, so we shall be able to see how "alliances" are created to bar the advance of the National Front !
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