The Off Topic Topic

[Valmy]

I am glad to see the FDP has returned to stability after its 2013 disaster.

[Grey Fox]

The music video for Iceland's Eurovision entry, complete with infectious beats, irreverent costuming, and absolutely sick dance moves.

https://youtu.be/1zTbVRPh5EI

Oh I'm all in for Ukraine this year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7-dxzp6Jvs

Not in English, reflects what I imagine is traditional Ukrainian music and is a banger. Ukraine has all the ingredients to become the Ireland of the 21st century

Although last year's was even bettter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNetXPSld50

Edit: Also this year is a cheerful (?) song greeting spring after the winter - which I feel is a bit mood for 2021.

I hope the closed captioning is real and the 2021 entry is the bangiest song about spring ever.

2020 entry : Wow. She breaks it down! Fireworks!

[Syt]

I am glad to see the FDP has returned to stability after its 2013 disaster.

They've also cozied up to the AfD's policies a fair bit.

[Sheilbh]

I am glad to see the FDP has returned to stability after its 2013 disaster.

They've also cozied up to the AfD's policies a fair bit.

Yes - bit of a trend of right-liberals helping mainstream the far/populist-right

[Duque de Bragança]

I am glad to see the FDP has returned to stability after its 2013 disaster.

They've also cozied up to the AfD's policies a fair bit.

Yes - bit of a trend of right-liberals helping mainstream the far/populist-right

Is this a bitter pot shot at Macron? 

[Sheilbh]

Is this a bitter pot shot at Macron? 

Among others

[Duque de Bragança]

Is this a bitter pot shot at Macron? 

Among others

Remember, he is from the PS originally. He even claimed to be from the left once. 

[Valmy]

I am glad to see the FDP has returned to stability after its 2013 disaster.

They've also cozied up to the AfD's policies a fair bit.

Yes - bit of a trend of right-liberals helping mainstream the far/populist-right

I guess that explains why they bounced back so quickly from their trouncing in 2013

Liberalism is going to have a tough time for awhile. Nationalists and Socialist types are on the rise everywhere it seems like.

[Sheilbh]

Remember, he is from the PS originally. He even claimed to be from the left once. 

But he's clearly a President of the centre-right by now.

[Admiral Yi]

But he's clearly a President of the centre-right by now.

Based on what?

[Duque de Bragança]

But he's clearly a President of the centre-right by now.

Based on what?

On his opportunism, as seen by Sheilbh, I guess.

[Sheilbh]

But he's clearly a President of the centre-right by now.

Based on what?

His policies - I can't think of any centre left policies he's pushed, I can think of many from the centre right. His personnel - most of his ministers from a political background have come from the centre-right (his premiers, Le Maire, Darmanin etc) far more than the PS. His political positioning - he's more clearly occupying the sort of territory that a moderate LR candidate would want and pitching more now for RN voters. Plus perception - I think polls when in France when he won pegged LREM as a centrist party, they're now identified by over 50% as a party of the centre right.

I don't think he even really pitches himself to the centre-left any more or pushes the old ni droite ni gauche line. And I can see a logic to that - the left are split and not going to make the second round or vote RN (although there's slightly interesting numbers of Melenchon supporters on this point). The key is to stop the right from getting to the second round or defecting to RN in the second round so that's where you need to be. I don't entirely agree with that logic and think it might under-estimate the risks of abstention or blow the system up votes from the left, but I can see it.

On his opportunism, as seen by Sheilbh, I guess.

His opportunism was his only redeeming feature

[Admiral Yi]

Can you give me an example of a center-right policy he has pushed?

[Grey Fox]

Can you give me an example of a center-right policy he has pushed?

A complete rehaul of the work code of France.

[Duque de Bragança]

On his opportunism, as seen by Sheilbh, I guess.

His opportunism was his only redeeming feature

So he has in fact no redeeming feature. Thanks.