Maybe this new-party-with-a-charismatic-leader thing isn’t as easy as people imagined.
Become educated, dress like you belong and join a political party.
Its winner may well face Marine Le Pen in next year’s presidential showdown
The polls predict a comfortable win for her opponent. But this far out the polls also predicted Remain and Clinton would win.
Plus: Will diehard Remainers never learn how democracy works? Nicolas Sarkozy is a sh*t. And, wonder of wonders, a right wing BBC audience.
If the major parties are locked together to keep the Front National out, neither can challenge a decaying consensus which is failing France.
The two battered main parties would do well to speak honestly about the challenges and costs we face.
It is clear that there is widespread and growing acceptance of the need for the EU to change, and change in the way we want.
The Labour leader praised France’s President for showing “different way forward”. But it didn’t work – and is now being abandoned.
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. BIFF! France has elected a Socialist president on a massive turnout (81.5% certainly shames Britain) – ending Nicolas Sarkozy's rule and also ending a run of right-of-centre victories across Europe. Some say '75% tax-rate Hollande' will be more moderate than on the campaign trail but IDS has warned of […]
British observers of the French presidential contest don’t seem overly impressed by the choice on offer. John Kay is no exception, but expresses his disillusion with more elegance than most: “Mr Sarkozy supports retirement at 62: Mr Hollande thinks 60 appropriate. Mr Sarkozy was elected on a programme of reform, and retirement at 62 proved […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. Le Pen won 20% of the vote, the left-wing firebrand Melenchon won 11.7% and centrist Bayrou 8.5%. It's not looking good for Sarkozy. The momentum that he appeared to be enjoying until a fortnight ago hasn't continued and exit polls (which, in France, are usually very accurate) put him […]
A Channel 4 report: The latest opinion polls suggest Sarkozy's 10% deficit in the first round of voting has been eliminated and he's now either neck-and-neck at 30% with the Socialist candidate or even marginally in front. The Socialist François Hollande has a 6% lead in the second round, however. The election is a vital […]
A Green Minister-President has governed Baden-Württemberg in coalition with the CDU for more than a decade, implementing a pro-business agenda.