Sarkozy increases his lead in France; Royal warns of unrest

International Herald Tribune ^ | May 4, 2007 | Katrin Bennhold and Craig S. Smith

[Cincinna]

The French presidential campaign officially closed Friday with the Gaullist front-runner, Nicolas Sarkozy, looking ever more assured of winning Sunday and his Socialist rival, Ségolène Royal, predicting street violence if he is elected.

Her warning came after the two latest opinion polls suggested Sarkozy would beat her by a bigger margin than predicted a few days ago, before a combative debate on national television in which Sarkozy kept his cool under rhetorical fire from Royal.

"Choosing Nicolas Sarkozy would be a dangerous choice," Royal told the radio station RTL.

"It is my responsibility today to warn people of the risk of his candidacy concerning the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country," she said, suggesting that unrest was especially likely in the volatile suburbs that were the site of rioting in 2005.

Whoever wins, the 2007 election will go down in history as one that shook France's political landscape. Sarkozy built a united party machine on the right, and while Royal failed to paper over the large cracks in the Socialist party, the emergence of a strong centrist vote for François Bayrou, third-place finisher in the first round two weeks ago, helped change the left. It must now decide whether to jettison traditional socialism in favor of the more market-oriented social democracy embraced by the left elsewhere in Europe.

[flaglady47]

Wouldn’t the joke be on us if, finally, we end up with a more pro-American leader in Germany in Merkel, a more pro-American leader in France in Sarkozy, a more pro-American leader in Canada, all of them more conservative in approach, and then we end up with a totally Democratic federal legislature, and a Dem for President in 2008. They all go one way, and we end up going another. They more conservative, we more leftist. Geez, the irony of it all.

[El Gato]

Any common person would certainly be arrested for such statements.

True, but any DemonRat could say something similar, in fact many have, with impunity.

[El Gato]

More than 3,000 police will be deployed in Paris and its suburbs to head off the threat of violence after Sunday's presidential election in France, police officials said Saturday.

3,000? Why don't they just say the police will be armed with spitballs? That's not nearly enough, unless they plan on calling in airstrikes.

[Cinnamon]

is Royal Pain threatening unrest? all these socialists have one thing in common. what was the name of that Mexican candidate setting up a shadow presidency?

[noblejones]

<<
. . . he would probably be a moderate deomocrat by our standards
>>

Tony Soprano is a moderate democrat.

[Brimack34]

Germany,Canada, and now France. The tide may be turning, if only slightly toward America.

[SunkenCiv]

"Choosing Nicolas Sarkozy would be a dangerous choice," Royal told the radio station RTL.

...while screaming at the top of her lungs and shaking her fist...

"It is my responsibility today to warn people of the risk of his candidacy concerning the violence and brutality that would be unleashed in the country," she said, suggesting that unrest was especially likely in the volatile suburbs that were the site of rioting in 2005.

Y'know, because Sarkozy spoke out against the rioting, vandalism, and hooliganism which broke out when two Moslem hoodlums who had never heard of electricity tried to hide from police officers -- who weren't chasing them -- and jumped into an electrical substation. Sarkozy caused the rioting after it had already started because he spoke out against the rioters. Oh, and 9/11 was a hoax. Thanks for listening, serfs.

The Socialist Party bigshots who tried to push Royal to the more moderate center are already speaking out. Bernard Kouchner, a former cabinet minister and veteran Socialist campaigner. "This election spells the death of old-style socialism and hopefully the birth of social democracy in France. The Socialist Party as we know it is dead." Kouchner, the founder of "Doctors Without Borders" and one of the most popular people in France. "It looks like he might not only win, but win by a landslide," said Brice Teinturier, director of political studies at Sofres.

Thanks Cincinna.

[sonic109]

“the Socialist Party as we know it is dead
NO IT’S NOT! It’s just moving to America in 08

[garylmoore]

I think I will end my boycott on French wine and french fries now.

[Americanexpat]

I think she is right, Sarky came wanted to come down pretty hard on the rioters and they know he will not tolerate a lot of crap like his predecessor. I am glad he is winning.