Hotting up in the French elections

@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
April 23, 2017 1:43pm CST
Here in the UK we're already bored with our upcoming General Election and struggling to get even a little bit excited about it so some of us are looking over the Channel for the intrigue and excitement of the French election. Today was the first round of voting. This is used to narrow the field down to just the two strongest candidates who then go into the final face-off a couple of weeks later. Please forgive me any French myLotters if I'm getting this wrong but obviously, it's not my country. The top four candidates seem to have been very close, polling between 19.5% and 23.7% each. The top two will have had less than 50% of the votes, so when people have to choose their best or 'least worst' candidate from the two that remain, it could get really interesting. The top two are a guy who's really new to the game, Macron, who started his own party only very recently and the far right Front National candidate, Marine le Pen. Le Pen is the daughter of the long term leader of France's extreme racists, pro-Frexit, anti-Europe, anti-immigration. Macron is very inexperienced, young (39) and passionately pro-Europe. It's often said that in the first round of voting, the French vote with their hearts and in the second round, they vote with their heads. It's going to be VERY interesting to see how this goes.
5 people like this
4 responses
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
23 Apr 17
Let's hope that when it comes to using their heads, the French have theirs screwed on correctly.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Apr 17
Well historically they voted in a totally useless President (Chirac) in order to prevent Marine's dad getting the job. Better a crook than a racist.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
23 Apr 17
@boiboing Well, if you put it like that...
• Banks, Oregon
23 Apr 17
Haha good one
@xFiacre (12599)
• Ireland
23 Apr 17
@boiboing They haven't managed a decent president since Mitterrand. I'd be a bit concerned about Macron's lack of experience but at least he's interesting and with a 53 year old wife. Maybe she'll provide stability!
@xFiacre (12599)
• Ireland
23 Apr 17
@boiboing This is true. And Hollande's example also left a lot to be desired according to his first lady. And his second. And his third.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Apr 17
And he might have been a decent president but wasn't much of a husband.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
23 Apr 17
That sounds far more interesting and exciting than our way of doing things!
• Banks, Oregon
23 Apr 17
People should always vote with there heads
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Apr 17
Ah, but what a shame if they don't occasionally follow their hearts.