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The future of France

Key quote from Hollande:

"My real adversary has no name, no face, no party; it will never be a candidate, even though it governs. It is the world of finance."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/22/francois-hollande-france-election

It seems he wasn't listening when Marx noted that ultimately economics trumps politics. I suspect he will learn this the hard way as president of France.

This is going to be rather interesting.
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Comments

  • vivatifosi
    vivatifosi Posts: 18,746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! PPI Party Pooper
    I agree it is interesting Wookster. The thing I find most fascinating is that France has a similar sized economy to ours and a similar population. Presence in the Eurozone excepted, it will be interesting to see what happens if Hollande gets back in as it offers an opportunity to us to watch from the sidelines what could happen in our own country.

    After all, it's not as if we've got a slightly unpopular man with a glamourous wife in charge here, up against someone who is more to the left but with absolutely no presence whatsoever, is it?
    Please stay safe in the sun and learn the A-E of melanoma: A = asymmetry, B = irregular borders, C= different colours, D= diameter, larger than 6mm, E = evolving, is your mole changing? Most moles are not cancerous, any doubts, please check next time you visit your GP.
  • Wookster
    Wookster Posts: 3,795 Forumite
    vivatifosi wrote: »
    After all, it's not as if we've got a slightly unpopular man with a glamourous wife in charge here, up against someone who is more to the left but with absolutely no presence whatsoever, is it?

    Good post.

    Not to mention the common allergy to austerity in both countries.

    At least it can be said that Cameron, for all his faults, is far more the statesman than Sarkozy who often behaves like a 3 year-old having a tantrum.
  • michaels
    michaels Posts: 29,218 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You have to assume that Sarko couldn't be as bad as he is portrayed in the British media....hopefully?
    Wookster wrote: »
    Good post.

    Not to mention the common allergy to austerity in both countries.

    At least it can be said that Cameron, for all his faults, is far more the statesman than Sarkozy who often behaves like a 3 year-old having a tantrum.
    I think....
  • Wookster
    Wookster Posts: 3,795 Forumite
    michaels wrote: »
    You have to assume that Sarko couldn't be as bad as he is portrayed in the British media....hopefully?

    Well, not to get too side-tracked from the original theme but here's a classic example: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7683913.stm

    You'd think a president would have more important things to focus on.
  • vivatifosi
    vivatifosi Posts: 18,746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! PPI Party Pooper
    Wookster wrote: »
    You'd think a president would have more important things to focus on.

    Like bunga bunga parties perhaps:D?
    Please stay safe in the sun and learn the A-E of melanoma: A = asymmetry, B = irregular borders, C= different colours, D= diameter, larger than 6mm, E = evolving, is your mole changing? Most moles are not cancerous, any doubts, please check next time you visit your GP.
  • Mrs_Bones
    Mrs_Bones Posts: 15,524 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Wookster wrote: »
    Good post.

    At least it can be said that Cameron, for all his faults, is far more the statesman than Sarkozy who often behaves like a 3 year-old having a tantrum.

    I don't know...Cameron often looks like he's on the verge of a tantrum. Have you ever seen him when someone disagrees with him or tries to argue an opposite point? He goes extremely red and is very ready to make snide comments rather than debate points. Sarkozy and Cameron are known for the clashes they have had, but I think it could be more a case of two similar characters than opposites. Neither are good at keeping their cool.
    [FONT=&quot]“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
  • pqrdef
    pqrdef Posts: 4,552 Forumite
    vivatifosi wrote: »
    The thing I find most fascinating is that France has a similar sized economy to ours and a similar population.
    But when Hollande says the world of finance, that's code for the City of London. France doesn't have that, we do. A lot of Europeans blame the whole debacle on Wall Street and the City, and they hate us more than the Americans, so the City is public enemy number 1.

    Merkel and Sarkozy were wrong-footed by the Great Clunking Fist, but it's going to be all-out war now.
    "It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pqrdef wrote: »
    Merkel and Sarkozy were wrong-footed by the Great Clunking Fist, but it's going to be all-out war now.

    But most probably between France and Germany.

    I'm selling popcorn.
  • pqrdef
    pqrdef Posts: 4,552 Forumite
    A._Badger wrote: »
    But most probably between France and Germany.
    Hmm. A cosy Franco-German axis can lord it over Europe, and Merkel and Sarkozy have enjoyed every minute of it. Can't see their replacements resisting that temptation in favour of a war they would both lose.
    "It will take, five, 10, 15 years to get back to where we need to be. But it's no longer the individual banks that are in the wrong, it's the banking industry as a whole." - Steven Cooper, head of personal and business banking at Barclays, talking to Martin Lewis
  • Mrs_Bones
    Mrs_Bones Posts: 15,524 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Merkel's grand idea of a fiscal compact isn't that good news for France though and Hollande has already said he would tear that up.
    [FONT=&quot]“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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