French Presidential Election

[Sheilbh]

Melenchon

Edit:  Just saw clip of Jack Lang interview

[CountDeMoney]

From Le Monde:
28,4 % François Hollande
25,5 % Nicolas Sarkozy
20 % Marine Le Pen
11,7 % Jean-Luc Mélenchon
8,5 % François Bayrou

Wow.  That's a lot more antisemitic Mooselimb haters than I would've thought would come out.  That can only help NS in two weeks.

80.3% turnout

Now see, people:  this is why France fucking rocks.  Look at that turnout.  That's a nation that takes its democracy seriously, compared to the bullshit numbers we get here.

[Drakken]

Now see, people:  this is why France fucking rocks.  Look at that turnout.  That's a nation that takes its democracy seriously, compared to the bullshit numbers we get here.

They take it seriously now because the last time they hadn't, it ended up Chirac vs. Le Pen on the second turn. They learned their lesson.

[Sheilbh]

They take it seriously now because the last time they hadn't, it ended up Chirac vs. Le Pen on the second turn. They learned their lesson.

Even then first round turnout was over 70%.

[CountDeMoney]

Now see, people:  this is why France fucking rocks.  Look at that turnout.  That's a nation that takes its democracy seriously, compared to the bullshit numbers we get here.

They take it seriously now because the last time they hadn't, it ended up Chirac vs. Le Pen on the second turn. They learned their lesson.

Well, one would've thought we learned our lesson in 2000.  And then 2004 happened. 

[citizen k]

From Reuters:
  Far-rightist Marine Le Pen threw France's presidential race wide open on Sunday by scoring nearly 20 percent in the first round - votes that may determine the runoff between Socialist favourite Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande led Sarkozy by about 29 to 26 percent in reliable computer projections broadcast after polling stations closed, and the two will meet in a head-to-head decider on May 6.
But Le Pen's record score of 18-20 percent was the sensation of the night, beating her father's 2002 result and outpolling hard leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, in fourth place on 11 percent. Centrist Francois Bayrou finished fifth on less than 10 percent.
Le Pen, who took over the anti-immigration National Front in early 2011, wants jobs reserved for French nationals at a time when jobless claims are at a 12-year high. She also advocates abandoning the euro currency and restoring monetary policy to Paris.
Her score reflected a surge in anti-establishment populist parties in many euro zone countries from Amsterdam to Athens as austerity and the debt crisis bite.
Voter surveys show about half of her supporters would back Sarkozy in a second round and perhaps one fifth would vote for Hollande, making her a potential kingmaker in the runoff.
Jean-Marie Le Pen's 16.9 percent score in the 2002 first round caused a political earthquake, knocking then Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin out of the runoff and forcing left-wing voters to rally behind conservative Jacques Chirac.
Sarkozy, 57, has painted himself as the safest pair of hands to lead France and the euro zone in turbulent times, but Sunday's vote appeared to be a strong rejection of his flashy style as well as his economic record.
If Hollande wins on May 6, joining a small minority of left-wing governments in Europe, he has promised to lead a push for a bigger focus on growth in the euro zone, mainly by adding pro-growth clauses to a European budget discipline treaty.
The prospect of a renegotiation of the pact is causing some concern in financial markets, as is Hollande's focus on tax rises over austerity at a time when sluggish growth is threatening France's ability to meet deficit-cutting goals.

[Oexmelin]

Exit polls give François Hollande as the winner.

Official results will be known in half an hour.

[viper37]

Now see, people:  this is why France fucking rocks.  Look at that turnout.  That's a nation that takes its democracy seriously, compared to the bullshit numbers we get here.

They take it seriously now because the last time they hadn't, it ended up Chirac vs. Le Pen on the second turn. They learned their lesson.

wasn't there a difference between how they count participation over there and here in North America?


EDIT: Got it.
In France, it's based on the number of registered voters only, while in the US it's based on the total potential voters (everyone aged 18+).

[Duque de Bragança]

A voté !

[Fireblade]

Looks like Sarko will have to go back home to live with his gypsy cousins.

[Duque de Bragança]

Official now for those who still doubted :

Around 52-48 for Hollande

[Richard Hakluyt]

I'm pleased, I think the Germans may be overcooking austerity in the Eurozone, Hollande may be able to change that.

(he will probably fuck up, but lets give the chap a chance)

[derspiess]

Well, France sucks again

[Jacob]

So what will come from a Hollande victory?

[Sheilbh]

I'm pleased, I think the Germans may be overcooking austerity in the Eurozone, Hollande may be able to change that.

(he will probably fuck up, but lets give the chap a chance)

Hopefully we'll get Hollanti.

VIVE LA FRANCE!

More worryingly the mainstream parties in Greece are, according to exit polls, getting just over 30%.  The rest of the vote's being split between Communists (and Greek Communists are old school), other far-left parties, neo-Nazis and independents.  It seems unlikely that they'll have a coherent, credible majority government.