France: The 2017 Battle To Élysée Palace
Welcome to Henry jex blog
In April 23, the French will head to the polls to elect a new president for the country of 64,868,613 people( March 2017), generally regarded as the bastion of civil liberties and fundamental rights and freedom in Europe. That would be first leg of the election as the French constitution provides for a second round of voting for the first two candidates, which for this year would hold on May 7.
The French election has taken the centre stage in recent weeks, being the first election in a powerful country and gladiator in Europe to hold after Brexit Referendum and the triumph of Donald Trump in the US as president on the platform of political populism.
Besides, France has a unique political system which makes it attractive to many. It is perhaps the only country in Europe which operates presidential system of government with a Prime Minister often from a different political party, a system known as cohabitation. More interestingly, this year’s election defies the traditional straight fight between the conservatives- Les Republicains (formerly the UMP) and the left-wing – Socialist Party as more parties are showing strong presence and likelihood to make great impact at the polls.
Like the US, the upcoming French elections have thrown up candidates of populist bent, canvassing ideas that appear fundamental to French people and their relationship with fellow Europeans and indeed the outside world.
In what is fast becoming a character of French politics, this year’s electioneering campaigns have seen a lot of scandals around the major actors that in a serious way realigned the forces and by extension the support bases of some candidates. In essence therefore, the big ideas and adverse effects of the scandals which have filled the media space will largely determine who emerges from the first ballot and ultimately wins the second round of vote to become the next French President. What then are the chances of the various candidates in the race?
Francois Fillon: The Conservative Presidential candidate from the onset appeared the person to beat until a recent scandal hit his camp with severe consequences on his candidature. Fillon was exposed by a newspaper which alleged he paid a whopping Half a million Euros in salaries and allowances to his British wife, Penelope as an Aide for a job she never did. Fillon has stoutly denied this allegation accusing the ruling- leftist party of planning an “institutional coup d’état” against him. His denial not withstanding, French authorities have already launched an investigation into the matter and recently raided the parliament in search of incriminating documents against Fillon who has asked his supporters to hold on the struggle to the end. It will be seen how Fillon will shave aside the scandal to muster the required percentage of the votes to proceed to the second round of voting.
Marine Le Pen: The only female candidate in the race would not play the feminist card. She wants to be taken in on her extreme ideas about the future of France based on her campaign slogan of “de- demonization”. Marine Le Pen, a Lawyer took over leadership of the Front National( FN) from her father, Jean Marie Le Pen in 2011 after over four decades of leading the party. The FN got into second round vote for the first and only time in 2002 but now appears set to do it again for the second time, thanks to the reformation of the party by the populist Marine and the leadership she is providing.
Analysts and pundits of French elections however, contend she would unlikely win the second vote to become the next president. If the elections go the way of Ms Penn however, France would also be heading out of EU since she has made exit of the continental organization one of her key campaign issues.
Emmanuel Macron: A new comer to French politics, Macron is however, not new to French government and society. Macron served first as Economic Adviser to President Francois Hollande before rising to become Minister of the Economy in 2014. He shocked French people and particularly his boss when suddenly resigned his post and floated is political party, En- Marche (On the Move) and became its presidential candidate. Macron has made it clear that he is neither “left nor right” meaning he is a centrist candidate. As new comer to electoral contest, Macron comes with his youth and progressive ideas to “modernize” the French economy while keeping the country fully in the European Union. “I’ve seen the emptiness of our political system from the inside… I reject this system,” he was quoted to have said in a recent speech in which he also canvassed a “democratic revolution” in the country.
Married to a divorcee who is 20 years older than him, it would appear as if Macron is not exactly the candidate to beat in the upcoming polls but his policy denouncing both “left and right” of the French political thinking makes him a centrist candidate many voters would prefer rather than follow the traditional divisions in the country’s politics.
Benoit Hamon: He defeated ex-prime minister Manuel Valls in the French Socialist presidential primaries to emerge as candidate . A former Education Minister, Hamon seeks to reduce France’s working week from 35 to 32 hours and to provide “monthly universal basic income” for all French citizens. Hamon’s campaign does not not appear to penetrate as deeply as he convincingly won the primaries and there are even doubts whether he would make it to the elite second round. His future like others in the race lies squarely in the hands of French voters to decide.
Welcome to Henry jex blog
In April 23, the French will head to the polls to elect a new president for the country of 64,868,613 people( March 2017), generally regarded as the bastion of civil liberties and fundamental rights and freedom in Europe. That would be first leg of the election as the French constitution provides for a second round of voting for the first two candidates, which for this year would hold on May 7.
The French election has taken the centre stage in recent weeks, being the first election in a powerful country and gladiator in Europe to hold after Brexit Referendum and the triumph of Donald Trump in the US as president on the platform of political populism.
Besides, France has a unique political system which makes it attractive to many. It is perhaps the only country in Europe which operates presidential system of government with a Prime Minister often from a different political party, a system known as cohabitation. More interestingly, this year’s election defies the traditional straight fight between the conservatives- Les Republicains (formerly the UMP) and the left-wing – Socialist Party as more parties are showing strong presence and likelihood to make great impact at the polls.
Like the US, the upcoming French elections have thrown up candidates of populist bent, canvassing ideas that appear fundamental to French people and their relationship with fellow Europeans and indeed the outside world.
In what is fast becoming a character of French politics, this year’s electioneering campaigns have seen a lot of scandals around the major actors that in a serious way realigned the forces and by extension the support bases of some candidates. In essence therefore, the big ideas and adverse effects of the scandals which have filled the media space will largely determine who emerges from the first ballot and ultimately wins the second round of vote to become the next French President. What then are the chances of the various candidates in the race?
Francois Fillon: The Conservative Presidential candidate from the onset appeared the person to beat until a recent scandal hit his camp with severe consequences on his candidature. Fillon was exposed by a newspaper which alleged he paid a whopping Half a million Euros in salaries and allowances to his British wife, Penelope as an Aide for a job she never did. Fillon has stoutly denied this allegation accusing the ruling- leftist party of planning an “institutional coup d’état” against him. His denial not withstanding, French authorities have already launched an investigation into the matter and recently raided the parliament in search of incriminating documents against Fillon who has asked his supporters to hold on the struggle to the end. It will be seen how Fillon will shave aside the scandal to muster the required percentage of the votes to proceed to the second round of voting.
Marine Le Pen: The only female candidate in the race would not play the feminist card. She wants to be taken in on her extreme ideas about the future of France based on her campaign slogan of “de- demonization”. Marine Le Pen, a Lawyer took over leadership of the Front National( FN) from her father, Jean Marie Le Pen in 2011 after over four decades of leading the party. The FN got into second round vote for the first and only time in 2002 but now appears set to do it again for the second time, thanks to the reformation of the party by the populist Marine and the leadership she is providing.
Analysts and pundits of French elections however, contend she would unlikely win the second vote to become the next president. If the elections go the way of Ms Penn however, France would also be heading out of EU since she has made exit of the continental organization one of her key campaign issues.
Emmanuel Macron: A new comer to French politics, Macron is however, not new to French government and society. Macron served first as Economic Adviser to President Francois Hollande before rising to become Minister of the Economy in 2014. He shocked French people and particularly his boss when suddenly resigned his post and floated is political party, En- Marche (On the Move) and became its presidential candidate. Macron has made it clear that he is neither “left nor right” meaning he is a centrist candidate. As new comer to electoral contest, Macron comes with his youth and progressive ideas to “modernize” the French economy while keeping the country fully in the European Union. “I’ve seen the emptiness of our political system from the inside… I reject this system,” he was quoted to have said in a recent speech in which he also canvassed a “democratic revolution” in the country.
Married to a divorcee who is 20 years older than him, it would appear as if Macron is not exactly the candidate to beat in the upcoming polls but his policy denouncing both “left and right” of the French political thinking makes him a centrist candidate many voters would prefer rather than follow the traditional divisions in the country’s politics.
Benoit Hamon: He defeated ex-prime minister Manuel Valls in the French Socialist presidential primaries to emerge as candidate . A former Education Minister, Hamon seeks to reduce France’s working week from 35 to 32 hours and to provide “monthly universal basic income” for all French citizens. Hamon’s campaign does not not appear to penetrate as deeply as he convincingly won the primaries and there are even doubts whether he would make it to the elite second round. His future like others in the race lies squarely in the hands of French voters to decide.
Comments
Post a Comment
What can you say.