France's Future : Who will be the President?

Keeping up with French politics and the scurrying to the goal posts on 22 April and on 6 May when the First Round and Second Rounds of the elections take place, is becoming a full time job. Thanks to news that come by my desk such as this interesting newsletter, the regular online news providers, other blogs -- and not to forget, nor underestimate the amazing news distribution via flyers and brochures found under my windscreen wipers after market day every Thursday!, I manage to stay au courant with the developments on the political scene.

But who will win the day?

The 2007 French presidential election will produce a new President for France --- the first round of voting will take place on Sunday, 22 April 2007. If no candidate wins 50% or more of the vote, a second round between the two leading candidates will take place on Sunday, 6 May 2007. This will be the ninth presidential election of the Fifth French Republic. At this stage, the two front-runners are still Socialist Ségolène Royal and the right wing Nicolas Sarkozy, but because they are coming into the home stretch at such similar speeds, many an opinion is that centrist Francois Bayrou may just end up being the winner on the day.

The twelve runners in the race on 22 April, are :
(and no one can ever say in France that their candidates are chosen for their looks!)

Olivier Besancenot, a very young revolutionary Trotskyist of the Communist League (Ligue communiste révolutionnaire)








Marie-George Buffet, a strong contender from the French Communist Party (Parti communiste français)




Gérard Schivardi , very far left and from the Workers' Party (Parti des travailleurs)








François Bayrou , the possible surprise who may just win be default, a centrist from the Union for French Democracy (Union pour la démocratie française), who is neither left, not Right, but 100% for a strong, prosperous France and its people-- and if I could vote, he would be my man!






José Bové, shepherd, man of the land, man of his convictions, and now that he is out of jail, a contender -- an Anti-globalization activist, who has great appeal with the man in the street.




Dominique Voynet, another ecologist, from The Greens (Les Verts),gentle and likable but with not as much appeal as the other female contestants, in particular Ségolène or Marie-George Buffet





Philippe de Villiers, my name-sake, and from my region, but far right, --- of the Movement for France (Mouvement pour la France)





Ségolène Royal, one of the three favourites, left wing Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste) As much as everyone would love to see a woman actually make it as a president of France, sadly she just does not seem to have cut the mustard. Too many mistakes, too many faux pas along the way, not a strong enough and convincing enough agenda. A surprise may still happen -- with French elections one can never be too sure!




Frédéric Nihous -- his party? Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Tradition (Chasse, pêche, nature, traditions)Yes! only in France! But if one considers that those were amongst the main reasons for the French people to cause a Revolution of all Revolutions, then one better watch this man.......




Jean-Marie Le Pen, a 78-year old, the oldest and the furthest right of all the candidates who who nearly caused a big surprise at the last elections when he received all the 'default votes', from the National Front (Front national) and never to be ignored.





Arlette Laguiller Workers' Struggle (Lutte Ouvrière), another ardent Troskyite and a long time runner for office, always with a large following of those who still clench a fist when they see the hammer and sickle --- small and feisty and gorgeous!





Nicolas Sarkozy - right-wing, Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire)and the most likely to provide France with a firm enough resolve and a strong enough leadership to lead them into the much needed change for a positive future.






Tonight Lalinde there is a meeting in Lalinde where we can hear all about why we should vote for Francois Bayrou -- and even though I had much coveted tickets for Vincent Delerme, the utterly delightful and delectable poet/singer that has stolen my heart a long time ago and who is performing in Bergerac tonight, I do not intend missing the opportunity to walk across the square at 7:30 tonight and go listen to everything there is to know about this latin scholar and horse breeder, the man's man, very possibly the next president of France, Francois Bayrou.




Click on Link:

Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event

TAGS: Events Rent a chateau France
Chateau
Francois Bayrou French President Elections in France French Politics