Thousands of leftists protest Hollande’s 1st year

[DonViejo]

Source: AP/Salon

PARIS (AP) — Tens of thousands of supporters of leftist parties are marching through central Paris to express disappointment with President Francois Hollande’s first year in power, criticizing the leader for reneging on his promises to rein in the world of finance and enact economic stimulus.

Hollande, a Socialist, won the presidency last May, promising to spare France the austerity measures enacted elsewhere in Europe. He has raised taxes, especially on the rich, and made limited cuts to spending.

France’s economy has continued to deteriorate, with growth stagnating and unemployment rising well above 10 percent. Hollande now has the lowest popularity rating of any post-war president.

Supporters of French leftist parties, which together call themselves the Left Front, marched through Paris on Sunday to call on Hollande to change his policies.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/05/05/thousands_of_leftists_protest_hollandes_1st_year/

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. We need a Left Front here, and maybe a march on Washington.

[brooklynite]

3. With the exception of the Civil Rights movement 50 years ago, point to a successful March...

...I think too many people live in the past. If you want thngs to change you need to do the hard work of getting the right people elected.

nb: "tens of thousands" (say fifty thousand) = 0.08% of the population.

[David__77]

4. Demonstration are just a small part of that. The Tea Party mobs certainly helped their cause.

Sometimes that type of mobilization can be critical. The problem is that there is no disciplined leftist political force in the US. I would like to see that force rise within the Democratic Party itself; unified, organized, and disciplined.

[brooklynite]

5. But not their Marches....

....as someone pointed out, in comparison to OWS, they protested during the day, then in the evening they went out and got people elected.

[leveymg]

2. Francois Hollande is the Tony Blair of France.

While the domestic jobs base and social net decline, he's pursuing glorious adventures in the former Colonies.