Comments on: Le Pen rising http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/ Tim King on French politics Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:42:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Election Monitor http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-4705 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:21:04 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-4705 IMPORTANT! Rachid Nekkaz, Candidate to the Presidency was filmed calling a Mayor who had promised his signature, asking why his signed letter of support had still not been received. THE REPLY WAS THAT THE CONSEIL COMMUNAL HAD THREATENED TO CANCEL SUBVENTIONS IF SAID MAYOR GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO A CANDIDATE THEY DID NOT APPROVE OF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS CALLED ELECTORAL FRAUD AS FAR AS I KNOW! IMPORTANT!

Rachid Nekkaz, Candidate to the Presidency was filmed calling a Mayor who had promised his signature, asking why his signed letter of support had still not been received. THE REPLY WAS THAT THE CONSEIL COMMUNAL HAD THREATENED TO CANCEL SUBVENTIONS IF SAID MAYOR GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO A CANDIDATE THEY DID NOT APPROVE OF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS CALLED ELECTORAL FRAUD AS FAR AS I KNOW!

]]> by: Tim http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-71 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:53:51 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-71 As you rightly say, the original idea (1962) was to keep out the loonies. At first each candidate had to get 100 elected representatives to endorse him/her. But in the first three presidential elections of the 5th Republic (don't forget until 1962 the president was not elected by universal suffrage but by college) those 100 endorsements did not prevent there being "too many" candidates, so in 1976 the ante was raised to 500 signatures which must come from 30 different départements, and not more that 10% from the same département. There are 40,000 elected representatives who qualify as being able to endorse a candidate, so the maximum number of candidates you can have is 80. In theory only, since the main candidates get as many as they can - well into 1,000 if possible - to block rival candidates. But the 1976 reform brought another change: for the first time the names of those endorsing were to be published, and have to be published at least 8 days before polling day. With a party like the Front National this has a potentially disastrous effect. As I wrote in my France Profonde column in December, many rural mayors are criticised by their electors for endorsing the FN. Some are physically aggressed, some lose their mandate. Many more are shamed into refusing the Front. Regardless of their political sympathies, many see this as undemocratic - especially since last time the Front came in only 2 points behind Chirac in the 1st round. But whether anyone apart from Jean-Marie Le Pen wants to change it...... It's like proprotional representation: people admit it serves the voter, but none of the main parties want to change. As you rightly say, the original idea (1962) was to keep out the loonies. At first each candidate had to get 100 elected representatives to endorse him/her. But in the first three presidential elections of the 5th Republic (don’t forget until 1962 the president was not elected by universal suffrage but by college) those 100 endorsements did not prevent there being “too many” candidates, so in 1976 the ante was raised to 500 signatures which must come from 30 different départements, and not more that 10% from the same département. There are 40,000 elected representatives who qualify as being able to endorse a candidate, so the maximum number of candidates you can have is 80. In theory only, since the main candidates get as many as they can - well into 1,000 if possible - to block rival candidates. But the 1976 reform brought another change: for the first time the names of those endorsing were to be published, and have to be published at least 8 days before polling day. With a party like the Front National this has a potentially disastrous effect. As I wrote in my France Profonde column in December, many rural mayors are criticised by their electors for endorsing the FN. Some are physically aggressed, some lose their mandate. Many more are shamed into refusing the Front. Regardless of their political sympathies, many see this as undemocratic - especially since last time the Front came in only 2 points behind Chirac in the 1st round.
But whether anyone apart from Jean-Marie Le Pen wants to change it…… It’s like proprotional representation: people admit it serves the voter, but none of the main parties want to change.

]]> by: Tomáš Ruta http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-70 Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:21:45 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-70 Hello, I would just like to ask what is the reasoning behind the measure compelling the candidates to collect 500 signatures? It is pretty obvious that although it may prevent the Monster-Ravin-Loony-like candidates from standing, it is very undemocratic. Have there been any attempts to abolish the practice? Or do the mainstream parties prefer keeping it, understandable as it is? Hello, I would just like to ask what is the reasoning behind the measure compelling the candidates to collect 500 signatures? It is pretty obvious that although it may prevent the Monster-Ravin-Loony-like candidates from standing, it is very undemocratic. Have there been any attempts to abolish the practice? Or do the mainstream parties prefer keeping it, understandable as it is?

]]> by: Luiz E Magalhaes http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-60 Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:22:42 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/le-pen-rising/#comment-60 Le Pen will rise again... It is very easy to understand why... He is the only candidate that has the courage to say loud and clear NO for free immigration policy... After 30 years receiving millions from Africa, East Europe, Asia and Latin America it is time to stop this flow. The French population is concearned with the high unemployment rate in their country and in Europe. Young frenchmen and frenchwomen can not find any job... But their parents are paying very high taxes for social benefits for the immigrants. They are sick and tired of this situation. This is crazy! It is time to stop this idea that the developed countries must host immigrants from the 3rd and 4th worlds... They have already lots of problems to take care within their own borders. Luiz E Magalhaes, Sao Paulo, Brazil Le Pen will rise again… It is very easy to understand why… He is the only candidate that has the courage to say loud and clear NO for free immigration policy… After 30 years receiving millions from Africa, East Europe, Asia and Latin America it is time to stop this flow. The French population is concearned with the high unemployment rate in their country and in Europe. Young frenchmen and frenchwomen can not find any job… But their parents are paying very high taxes for social benefits for the immigrants. They are sick and tired of this situation. This is crazy! It is time to stop this idea that the developed countries must host immigrants from the 3rd and 4th worlds… They have already lots of problems to take care within their own borders. Luiz E Magalhaes, Sao Paulo, Brazil

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