Royal accused of Mid-East 'gaffe'

BBC ^ | December 5, 2006 | Alisdair Sandford

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

This is Ms Royal's first visit to the Mid-East as presidential candidate

Political opponents of French socialist presidential candidate, Segolene Royal, have accused her of making serious errors during a Middle East trip.

Opponents from the ruling centre-right party have criticised her stance towards Hezbollah.

This was her first official overseas trip since winning her party's nomination for the election last month.

On Monday she was in Israel, meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and earlier Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Although she has been given a warm reception fit for a head-of-state in waiting, at home, her visit has become mired in pre-election controversy.

During a joint news conference in Beirut, a Hezbollah MP compared Israel's policy towards Lebanon with Nazism.

Ms Royal did not respond, saying later that her interpreter had not used the word - but had she heard it, she would have condemned it as abominable.

During the meeting she also said she shared many of the Hezbollah politician's critical views on the US.

Opponents from the governing UMP party and Jewish organisations say the socialist presidential candidate is guilty of a naive, irresponsible attitude to Middle Eastern affairs, damaging to France.

The French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy described her attitude as simplistic.

Segolene Royal's campaign team pointed out there had been no reaction from Israel, saying the attacks from home smacked of electioneering.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping.

[Dark Skies]

Sarko is going to make mincemeat of her.

[Dark Skies]

Here's a link to another article on this matter...

French candidate's silence criticized

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Hopefully, although he isn't soooo great either.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Appreciated.

[Dark Skies]

What's wrong with Sarkozy?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Ethical/Morality things: a woman left her husband for him (before he was divorced, and disapprove of divorce anyway), then he supposedly "[cheated] around" and later while in the process of another divorce (which apparently didn't go through), he had another affair. This seems typical for French politicians, but it still isn't good.

[Dark Skies]

He's french alright.

But he's also pro-business, anti-immigration, strongly anti-islamofascism, pro-Israel, pro-U.S., etc.

Also, his political heroes are Reagan and Thatcher.

He's not perfect, but I am hoping he wins.

[whitedog57]

Her strategy was to be silent, not raise any red flags, and the left would vote her in. She opened her mouth and ...

Rest assured, she won't say anything else and will get elected.

French economy will tank even more and the Muzzies will eventually take control of France.

Socialism = Cowardice

[monday]

"Ethical/Morality things: a woman left her husband for him (before he was divorced, and disapprove of divorce anyway), then he supposedly "[cheated] around" and later while in the process of another divorce (which apparently didn't go through), he had another affair. This seems typical for French politicians, but it still isn't good."

lol.... all of which is so oppressive to the French people they would be better off voting for the socialist? I am continually surprised at some peoples priorities.

To me, socialism oppresses people, causing narcissism, debased values, eliminating work incentives, and eventually causing economic and social ruin. Cheating husbands?.... not so much.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

See comments 3 and 5.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Senegolene Royal's trip to Israel ping.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747980/posts

"In a 20-minute tirade Mr Ammar attacked 'unlimited American insanity' for sending troops into Afghanistan and Iraq. He then said that Israeli 'Nazism' was no better than Hitler's Third Reich. Ms Royal, who is on her first overseas trip since winning the Socialist Party primary, replied: 'Thank you for being so frank. I agree with a lot of the things you have said, notably your analysis of the US.'"

[rabidralph]

So the Eiffel Tower will become a minarat(sp)?