http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/332540/20120424/france-elections-sarkozy-hollande-le-pen-national.htm
The first round of the French presidential election has put Socialist candidate Francois Hollande in first, current President Nicolas Sarkozy in second, and extreme right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen in third.
This is the first time in recent history that the president did not win the first round of the re-election campaign. Another first is the record-high 17.9% earned by the National Front party candidate, Le Pen.
Le Pen supports abandoning the euro currency and severely restricting immigration. She questions the other candidates view on France's sovereignty.
Hollande strives to bring National Front voters back to the left who have voted right because of "social anger" and anti-Sarkozy feelings. He supports anti-EU and pro-job movements.
Le Pen is calling for her followers to not vote for Sarkozy in the second round, which would lead to his defeat. She is also turning her party's attention to the parliamentary elections in June. In 1986 there were 35 members of parliament in the National Assembly but there are currently none.
3 comments:
This will be an interesting race to watch. Each of these men seem to have varying views and all of them can begin to pull the country in different directions than maybe they are used to in France.
I feel like in a world that is becoming more liberal, Le Pen holds many conservative views and is interesting to see that is has brought her success. I also want to know the effects of France leaving the Euro will have on the Euro.
If France leaves the Eurozone, I think that the system will quickly fall apart. Germany is the largest economy, France is the second largest, and Italy is the third. Italy is far from a stable government (and economy) right now, with about $2.6 trillion in debt. So Germany would be at risk as the only large stable economy. I certainly hope France stays in the zone or major restructuring will be needed.
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