LOCAL ELECTION DISASTER SPURS HOLLANDE INTO ACTION !

The catastophic Local Election results for the Socialists  in France last Sunday were confirmed yesterday when many more Councils swung from the Socialist Left to the Conservative Right.  Also 14 towns were conquered by the Extreme Right.  Like last week, "abstentions" were again at an all-time high.

President Hollande is expected to announce sweeping changes within the next few hours.  Will his friend Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Prime Minister, be replaced ?  Will he discard half the Ministers in the Cabinet, which is what electors are expecting ?

To say that voters are disgruntled is an understatement !  They are simply worried stiff by increasing taxes, rising unemployment and the continual dithering of the President who delays any and all decisions as long as he can.  What electors want are policies to kick-start the Economy.

Current problems will not just go away because on May 25 2014 in France the EU election of MEPs will take place. The Extreme Right (or National Front) is expected to make many gains at the expense of Socialists and the Conservatives.  It is already quite clear that the Election Program of the National Front has been favourably received by the electorate. 

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FRANCOIS HOLLANDE CONDAMNE AU CHANGEMENT!

Les élections municipales des 23 et 30 mars 2014   marquée par la débacle de la gauche ont, de l'aveu même du Premier Ministre, constitué un "moment de vérité" et les français ont voulu envoyer "un message clair".

Encore faudrait-il que François Hollande sache décrypter et comprendre le message !  Pourquoi plus de 150 villes ont elles basculées à droite? Pourquoi le Front National-Rassemblement bleu marine a-t-il remporté la Mairie dans 14 villes et vu l'élection de plus de 1200 conseillers municipaux ?

C'est bien la politique de François Hollande des deux dernières années qui a été sanctionnée:  sa "boîte à outils" très vite raillée faute de résultats, son choc de simplification annoncé et toujours attendu, son pacte de responsabilité, énorme coquille vide jusqu'à maintenant ...

Gageons que les élections européennes du 25 Mai prochain confirmeront et amplifieront le message adressé aux politiques le 30 mars !

DML
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FRENCH GOVERNEMENT RESHUFFLE SOON !

The catastrophic results obtained yesterday in the first round of the Local Elections by the Socialists, added to the plunging popularity of President Hollande in Opinion Polls during recent months, means that a reshuffle of the Government will now take place sooner rather than later !  In fact, as soon as possible after the results of the second round of voting are known next Sunday.  

The idea was aired several weeks ago when it became clear that 36 Ministers (18 Men and 18 Women) were a handicap when quick decision making was necesary.

Speculation has surrounded the future of the Prime Minister, Jean-Mark Ayrault !  Will the Foreign Minister, Laurant Fabius, (who was Prime Minister under Mitterand from July 1984 until March 1986) now accept to replace him ? 

If, as seems to be the case, Hollande wants a second term as President, he must act now.  His dithering must stop. The continual increases in taxes must also stop !  The State must lead by directly investing and helping private businesses to do likewise. 

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LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS STUN SOCIALIST HEIRARCHY !

There have been many inquisitions on the bad results obtained by the Socialists in the first round of the Local Elections in France last Sunday.  The results have stunned the Socialist Heirarchy in Paris !

In direct interviews on television die-hard Socialist voters revealed that they either abstained from voting or voted for another party due to, -

     -  Mounting unemployment (3.34 million, ie + 35 000 in February 2014)  
     -  Uncontrolled immigration,
     -  Closures of Factories or Businesses,
     -  Increases of Turnover Taxes and other taxes,
     -  General Insecurity.

To put it another way, simply explaining the reasons for the General Economic Downturn or Crisis in France instead of acting, is not enough !

What the "Voters" want is "Action" in Paris to reverse or correct the trends !  Reshuffling the Government may be necessary to save some faces but what voters want, is -

     -  More direct Investments in Government Projects,
     -  Lower Taxes, 
     -  Less Immigration.

The National Front has gained many more votes because their main message hits home with the unemployed, i.e. less immigration !  This same Message will also gain many more seats in the coming EU Elections of MEPs in May 2014.  Not only the Socialists but also the Conservative Right in France fear this !  

The time is gone when everyone chuckled over Hollande's dilemma when he sacked his Lover for a new  younger Mistress in January !   He no longer has the time to dither, he is now expected to act and to get France back on an even keel !

However,it may already be too late to save his face in time for  next Sunday when the Vote of the second and last round of the Local Elections takes place !                            .                                    

ELECTIONS MUNICIPALES : GAGNANTS ET PERDANTS !

Consternant le Premier Ministre Jean-Marc Ayrault qui, dimanche soir, face au désaveu de la gauche n'a trouvé que cette seule parade, appeler "Les forces démocratiques et républicaines à faire barrage au Front National"...

Spectaculaire mais prévisible la très forte percée du Front National ! Certains se sont pourtant déjà empressés de parler du "pouvoir de nuisance du FN" pour le deuxième tour...  Parle-t-on en ces termes du Front de Gauche ?

Enfin si l'UMP a fait des résultats honorables, la virulente tribune de Nicolas Sarkozy parue dans Le Figaro du 21 mars n'y est peut être pas totalement étrangère !

DML

 

FRENCH LOCAL ELECTIONS: THE SURPRISE.

Before the vote it was expected that the National Front (or Extreme Right) would get a good slice of the votes, but the one they finally got was much bigger.  This was the first surprise.

There was also a second surprise because the abstentions at 38.6% were the highest since a long time.  A closer analysis revealed that the Socialist non voters were mainly responsible for the increase in the number of abstentions.

Since 1960 when De Gaulle created the 5th Republic there have only ever been two main Parties in contention at elections, the Socialists and the Conservatives, but with the National Front there are now three !

Yesterday only a few Mayors got more than 50% in the first round voting and were therefore elected.  Next Sunday there will be many three cornered run-offs with National Front candidates.  As usual beaten candidates will be touted for support but no one wants to admit to the possibility of  "making a deal" with the National Front.

This week will see feverish activity on the Local Level but there also be repercussions at the higher level of National Government.

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SARKOZY S'INDIGNE , LA GAUCHE AUSSI !

Sortant de son silence, Nicolas Sarkozy a fustigé les méthodes employés par les magistrats à son encontre ( voir LE FIGARO du 21 mars).

S'agissant plus particulièrement de la mise sur écoute de l'ancien Président de la République , le gouvernement et toute la gauche s'est indignée d'une possible comparaison avec les méthodes de la Stasi ! Pourtant n'est ce pas ce rapprochement qui spontanément vient à l'esprit ? (cf notre article publié le 9 mars dernier dans ce blog).

Quant à François Hollande qui recevait jeudi 20 mars le Président du Conseil National des Barreaux et le Bâtonnier de Paris, soucieux de dénoncer la banalisation des écoutes, il a invité ses interlocuteurs à "prendre de la hauteur" une façon d'esquiver le problème en cours...

Par ailleurs, jusqu'alors qui s'est étonné que soit publié dans la presse le contenu des écoutes, et qui s'est ému de la violation du secret de l'instruction ? La Ministre de la Justice, Madame Taubira est restée bien muette sur ce point !

DML