The Off Topic Topic

[Sheilbh]

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

Got rid of Hollande's wealth tax and replaced with a flat tax on income from capital, the security legislation following protests that imposes fines and possibly prison sentences on people who film the police "in a threatening way", immigration law that speeds up when the state can expel failed assylum seekers/illegal migrants and narrows scope for appeal. All legislation that you wouldn't be surprised from a Tory government here.

I don't think it's a controversial thing to say that Macron has governed as a centre-right President.

[Admiral Yi]

A complete rehaul of the work code of France.

Yet Putin's whore Schroeder redid labor laws and he is considered center left.

[Josquius]

Is it really controversial to say Macron is centre right?

[Duque de Bragança]

Is it really controversial to say Macron is centre right?

It seems some people don't see he is just an opportunist. Originally, he claimed to be from the left, even socialist, (PS remember?), but with an elitist, free-market (as in uterus outsourcing liberalization) and authoritarian touch, combined with a multiculturalist, pro mass-emigration and repentance stance.

Also depends if his granny is around, she tends to have a positive influence on him, less gaffes by Macron in her presence.

Like a successful FDP type, but unlike a true centre-right Democrat Christian, that's for sure.

PS: Macron in 2014, minister of Hollande, allegedly the anti high-finance president 

"Pourquoi je suis socialiste"

https://youtu.be/rwy1LB9Mq2o?t=27

[celedhring]

So, the last episode in great corporate rebrandings 



https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/1499#images

[Sheilbh]

Yet Putin's whore Schroeder redid labor laws and he is considered center left.

And Boris Johnson supports nationalised healthcare but is considered centre-right?

I think one key difference is Schroeder (and Blair and Clinton) did that from within a left-wing tradition and party - so there was a counter-pressure to their politics in their party, with allies, with senior figures with their own power base etc.

Because Macron founded his own party (using his initials ) which was deliberately divorced from political traditions or party barons being able to fetter him - that anchor or alternative doesn't really exist. I think that is quite different from the third wave politicians or, say, Cameron on the right. They caused splits and conflicts with traditional allies/their party, but were speaking within a tradition to reform the left/right. That's entirely diffferent from deliberately stepping outside of that, saying you're going to transcend it and setting up a political movement about electing you. All Macron has, in the end, is himself.

So he has in fact no redeeming feature. Thanks.

As Biden said of Dennis Kucinich, I love his wife

[Sheilbh]

So, the last episode in great corporate rebrandings 



https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/1499#images

How is this not an April Fools?

[celedhring]

Well, the press release is dated for today, so I assume it's not an April Fool's.

[Admiral Yi]

Is it really controversial to say Macron is centre right?

I don't know and I don't care.

I guess the question I'm trying to get at is the subjectivity and relativity of calling someone center right or center left.

For example if we look at the policies Shelf mentioned, he views them as center right because they were a move from the left to the right.

But isn't it just as logical to view them as moves from the center left to the center-center?  The wealth tax for example.  A tax on wealth is not IMO a center right policy. 

[Duque de Bragança]

Because Macron founded his own party (using his initials ) which was deliberately divorced from political traditions or party barons being able to fetter him - that anchor or alternative doesn't really exist. I think that is quite different from the third wave politicians or, say, Cameron on the right. They caused splits and conflicts with traditional allies/their party, but were speaking within a tradition to reform the left/right. That's entirely diffferent from deliberately stepping outside of that, saying you're going to transcend it and setting up a political movement about electing you. All Macron has, in the end, is himself.

So he has in fact no redeeming feature. Thanks.

As Biden said of Dennis Kucinich, I love his wife

I always read E.M as Et merde.

Platonic gerontophilia is another matter. 

[Barrister]

"Voltswagen" appears legit - but curiously limited to US only.

[Duque de Bragança]

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

Got rid of Hollande's wealth tax and replaced with a flat tax on income from capital, the security legislation following protests that imposes fines and possibly prison sentences on people who film the police "in a threatening way", immigration law that speeds up when the state can expel failed assylum seekers/illegal migrants and narrows scope for appeal. All legislation that you wouldn't be surprised from a Tory government here.

I don't think it's a controversial thing to say that Macron has governed as a centre-right President.

Wealth tax predates Hollande. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impôt_de_solidarité_sur_la_fortune
It's from Mitterrand times.

Replaced by another tax on real estate.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impôt_sur_la_fortune_immobilière

[HVC]

So, the last episode in great corporate rebrandings 



https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/1499#images

I hear the law and order dun dun sounds when i see that.

[Sheilbh]

I don't know and I don't care.

I guess the question I'm trying to get at is the subjectivity and relativity of calling someone center right or center left.

For example if we look at the policies Shelf mentioned, he views them as center right because they were a move from the left to the right.

I don't think moving from left to right makes you centre-right. I think that's probably irrelevent. Blair is centre-left (he moved the country from right to left and his party from left to right); Cameron is centre-right (vice versa).

I think within French politics Macron's taken policies and pitched himself in a place that's not dissimilar to Sarko - reformist centre right, authoritarian instincts but more of a pitch to the far-right. And as I say what I'm basing this on is largely people who report on France or write about French politics. It's not particularly original

[Tonitrus]

So, the last episode in great corporate rebrandings 



https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/1499#images

Finally distancing from Hitler.