Socialists Lead in Early Voting in France

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

PARIS — The governing party of President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be beaten by the opposition Socialists on Sunday in a first round of regional elections marked by a record abstention, according to partial official results released Sunday night.

The results point to a resounding defeat for the center-right in the final round next Sunday, the last nationwide vote before presidential elections in 2012.

While Mr. Sarkozy is damaged by the vote and his main opponents are heartened by it, the Socialist Party remains deeply divided about its policies and its leadership, with no clear presidential candidate at this stage.

Mr. Sarkozy has tried to play down the election as “regional voting, regional consequences,” but he has already indicated that he intends to slow the pace of his reforms and is likely to have at least a minor cabinet reshuffle.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/world/europe/15france.html

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What happened to the corporate media spin of a few months ago that socialists were in retreat in Europe. Still, it is unlikely to happen here with Fox News and other corporate media advocating Somalia style small government.

[Svafa]

1. Good for France!

I hope this pans out! If so maybe it will send a message to the u.s. But with all the repubs and teabagging lunatics I can't be too optimistic.

[Skink]

2. When this says socialist in the U.S.

Yeah we don't have any. I challenge anybody here to buy a copy of ISR.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Where's the "true Democrat" that was thankful he didn't live in France...

...because no true Democrat could be a socialist?

Oh, I remember -- he was TSed!

[awoke_in_2003]

4. You Commie

:hi:

[paulsby]

6. no true democrat

can be a socialist in the true sense of the word - iow, a socialist economic system where the means of production and distribution are in govt. hands.

of course, the socialist party in france doesn't advocate that.

they advocate a rather strong social safety net, etc. but hardly socialism as originally defined.

the democratic party is a capitalist party btw.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Pssst. Socialism isn't an all-or-nothing proposition.

A strong social safety net is (a) a socialist policy, no ifs or buts, and (b) a good thing.

A government can very well put to practice a number of socialist policies and not put to practice a number of other socialist policies.

[alp227]

5. And guess what socialism offers France?

Universal health care! (at the same time a stable economy and high standard of living)

But it sucks that there's a pretty low voter turnout and infighting and disunity within the party that's getting the votes.

Oh yeah, "Somalia-style government"? :rofl: Of course, zero government gives some idiots the power to screw over everyone else's rights. If the US government could really drown in a bathtub, imagine what'd happen if the gun-toting Free Republic-addicted rednecks took over.

[No Elephants]

8. Given the international conservative cult, this is very impressive and encouraging.

[pampango]

9. That's the good news. The bad: Far-Right National Front performs well in French regional elections

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/7448051/Far-Right-National-Front-performs-well-in-French-regional-elections.html

"France's far-Right National Front (FN) has re-emerged on the French political scene after enjoying a surprisingly strong showing in regional elections on Sunday. All but crushed after the 2007 presidential elections, the National Front, or FN, confounded polling predictions to reap almost 12 per cent of the national vote.

The opposition Socialists came in first with 29.48 per cent of the vote and are expected to join forces with the green-minded Europe Ecologie party, which came third with 12.7 per cent.

But the FN result was Sunday night’s biggest surprise, coming in the wake of a year-long recession in France and a regional campaign in which Mr Sarkozy’s camp has repeatedly beaten the drum of national identity and immigration. His party, which has rammed home an anti-immigrant message, is in the running in 12 of France’s 22 mainland regions.

Martine Aubry, the Socialist leader, instantly accused Mr Sarkozy of “re-opening a door for the FN”. The President, she said, “led this debate on national identity aimed at opposing French from here with French from elsewhere or foreigners, well (in doing so) he opened a door". During its campaign, the FN played on fears by releasing a poster that read “No to Islamism”, and depicting woman wearing a full Islamic veil and an Algerian flag superimposed on a map of France with minarets portrayed as missiles."

[Kingofalldems]

10. DU's trumpeter of Sarkozy's victory won't like this one

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Who? PM me. -nt