http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/not-such-a-silly-election-after-all/ Tim King on French politics Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:46:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/not-such-a-silly-election-after-all/#comment-14542 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:53:09 +0000 http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/blog/franceprofonde/not-such-a-silly-election-after-all/#comment-14542 Yes, but...a 40% abstention rate. I find this rather shocking? Are so many French feckless and irresponsible? (I believe voting is compulsory in certain European countries, in Scandinavia perhaps.) The adage "it's better to have the adversary on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in" is perhaps apt here. Had the Left been reduced to less than 200 seats they might have, in their frustration, been all the readier to call their comrades to the barricades. Yes, but…a 40% abstention rate. I find this rather shocking? Are so many French feckless and irresponsible? (I believe voting is compulsory in certain European countries, in Scandinavia perhaps.) The adage “it’s better to have the adversary on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in” is perhaps apt here. Had the Left been reduced to less than 200 seats they might have, in their frustration, been all the readier to call their comrades to the barricades.

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