Sarkozy party 'set for landslide'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Projections after the first round of France's parliamentary elections suggest President Nicolas Sarkozy's party is heading for a landslide.

Although most seats will not be decided until next week's second round, polling firms said Mr Sarkozy's UMP party would win at least 383 of the 577 seats.

Analysts say a big majority would allow the new president to press ahead with his sweeping economic reforms.

Turnout is reported to have reached a record low, at around 61%.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6737825.stm

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It looks like the socialist vote has collapsed, in this round at least.

[hack89]

1. It sounds like the French are ready for a change. nt

[cyclezealot]

3. Not so sure.

When Chirac was first elected he had a mandate. And he named the likes of Juppe and Rarrafin , which became very unpopular and Chirac had to dump them due to malaise. Americans forget Chirac came into power with goals similiar to Sarko. And now Sarko names those same unpopular henchmen to powerful Cabinet posts. And the French eat it up??
I think the French really don't know what economic policiies they are in for. Sarko gives only goals and generalities but is wishy washy on specifics.
What is worrysome, Sarko has connections to the media and he is a master charlatan at image control, similiar to Reagan.
The other point, the lefts vote did not evaporate. To my surprise the French electoral system vote counting does not reflect the vote. The combined right only got like 45% and the combined left 43%- that is not a collapse of it's base. yes, they could have done better, but as Hollande said it was 'honorable.' And as the centerist Bayrou said, the French will some day soon, really regret this one sided parliament, which does not reflect the real vote.
I think the result can be summarized by ; Sarko's master Machevallian methods, an unrepresentative vote, and the whole world hates those invaders from the 'south,' with a different skin pigment.
I predict, Juppe/Raffarin will soon be dumped by Sarko, same as did Chirac over 10 years ago and before the left again assumed control of the parliament and made Chirac co-habitate. But, then Sarko has been a better understudy of Reagan's 'teflon,' jacket than did Chirac.

[Euphen]

2. The results aren't quite as dramatic as they may seem to American observers.

The French electoral system is designed to ensure such super-majorities. In 1993 the socialists were reduced to 53 seats, but the conservative government still failed to push through its desired reforms due to the strength of the unions. I'm not sure, however, if the unions today are still strong enough to stop Sarkozy.

[cyclezealot]

4. That will be the difference

When Sarko's poll ratings go down and the French don't like the specifics of his economic policies, will they take to street theater as they always do? And so , Sarko knows how to act like Spiro Agnew and bash the protesters, even if a majority of the people agree with the protesters. ? Certainly with this one sided Assembly, debating issues will be only a big side show. Sort of like the Hastert congress was.