(France) Bayrou: I won't vote for Sarkozy - Guardian

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Midday

Bayrou: I won't vote for Sarkozy

Peter Walker
Thursday May 3, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

While still refusing to formally take sides in the French presidential
election run-off, François Bayrou today announced that he would
not be voting for rightwing challenger Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday.

The centrist candidate, who finished third in the first round of the
election on April 22 with 18.6% of the vote, told Le Monde today
that following last night's debate between Mr Sarkozy and Socialist
challenger Ségolène Royal he "will not vote" for Mr Sarkozy.

-snip-

In today's interview he reiterated that he would "probably not" be
making a formal statement before Sunday. He refused again to
formally endorse either candidate, but added: "I will not vote for
Sarkozy", saying his policies "risk worsening tears in the social
fabric".

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2071497,00.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. It sounds like his supporters don't need for him to endorse anyone

They should get the message on who (not) to vote for.

[ccpup]

2. all the French expatriates I know

here in NYC are voting "blanche" eg. not voting for anybody, but still having a vote counted. I dread seeing Sarkozy as President de France. :scared:

[Laughing Mirror]

3. Do your NYC friends dread Sarkozy as president, as well as you?

If they do it's hard to understand why they would vote blanche and not come right out and vote for Royal. Tell them if they want to see what sort of mess neo-con Sarkozy will make of the country in five years they need look no farther than the mess Bush has made of the US.

[ccpup]

4. Yes, they do.

And I've tried to talk "sense" into them, but they sincerely view it as a lose-lose situation. They either get Le Diabolique (Sarko) in office or they get Ségo -- who they fear is not at all ready for such a big job. They feel voting "blanche" is the way to go for them. I disagree. And we leave it at that. It IS their choice, after all. So ... :grr:

[Laughing Mirror]

5. A vote blanche is a vote for the Rolex man

screenshot from last night's debate:


And let's not forget this happy chance encounter last September 16, when Sarkozy came to White House to see Steven Hadley and just happened to run into his glowering idol in the hallway who then invited him into the Oval Office for half an hour. What could the two raging maniac fear-mongers have talked about?

[ccpup]

7. what's wrong with Rolex?

although I despise most of what Sarko has offered by way of "policy", I don't understand the Rolex jab. I have a few myself. Is there something wrong with that I should know about? :shrug:

[Laughing Mirror]

9. Sarko's base "policy" is to steal from the poor to pay for the rich

He's a pretty flashy player with all his expensive Rolexes and other bling bling accoutrements. Do people voting for him know anything about his policies? I don't think so, not much. I have a hunch people voting for him know not a damn thing about what he represents, but if can flash his Rolexes, that's fine by them, so can they. What you will have with Sarkozy is some people losing their shirts so that a very few others (Sarkozy and his base) will be able to buy more Rolexes ... and Rolls.

[dave_p]

8. I'm always puzzled...

... by the claim that candidate X hasn't the experience for the job. How the heck do folk expect them ever to get the experience if they don't vote for them?

Worse still, have they seen some of the people who do have the experience? Though in France's case there are only two left, Chirac being the younger at 74. I'd prefer either to Sarko, must confess.

[necso]

6. I'm voting for Ségolène.

That is, if some undecided voter will oblige.

She'd do well.

[Colobo]

10. Sarokzy will win, sadly.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Received my polling place information last week......

and Ségolène Royal has my vote! :)