With 51.8 percent of the vote, the men and women of France have elected François Hollande President of the Republic. A win this big is absolutely clear.
The French, without any ambiguity, have centered at the head of state the strength of youth, the desire for change and hope in progress. This is the second major change after that of May 10, 1981. It is great news for France, great news for the Republic, and great news for Europe.
No one will forget this second-round campaign, which yielded blunders deemed unacceptable by the French people. The Republic has emerged anew, raised up as never before in support of a candidate who made rallying his mission and equality his program.
I followed François Hollande for many years. I saw his transformation take place from former First Secretary of the Socialist Party, to candidate, to historic leader of the left, and now to head of state. Nothing was given him, nothing was granted him, nothing was vouchsafed by this or that privilege. All that he took, he always took from the right; it's that which he still won this May 6, 2012. Moreover, he unseated Nicolas Sarkozy, part of in his plan for France and for Europe. Watched with curiosity by European leaders, he succeeded in convincing voters across France, managing to defend a plan for growth and justice, an ambition for the continent. The French trust him sufficiently to represent them before all the heads of state, with Germany as an essential partner for the future of the EU and for each European summit. Hope is now a new idea in Europe.
The challenge from now on is to allow François Hollande to implement his policies. The incumbent's teams will, no doubt, flaunt the benefits of governmental cohabitation -- those who have yet to demonstrate this -- and attempt to avoid ceding all the power to the left, after the regional authorities, the Senate, and the president. The reality of the situation is nevertheless very different. This is the presidential election, the mother of all elections in our country, which has helped set the course for the next five years. The left does not aspire to power for itself, but has conquered in order to transform the country and bring justice to the people of France. The challenge of the legislative elections will be, more than ever, to confirm the decision of May 6, 2012.
This campaign was as intricate as it was long-lasting. It began amongst citizens, and it enabled the candidate to sanctify social justice, tax justice, and territorial justice. François Hollande criss-crossed France, meeting with the people of France. It is thus natural that France made him the President of the Republic.
Starting now, François Hollande will have significant responsibilities. We know the magnitude of his task. Every time France elected the party of the left, the country was in a period of great social suffering, facing major economic difficulties. An unemployment rate that affected almost 10 percent of the workforce, a housing situation that concerns 3.7 million people, a fuel crisis that threatens 4 million homes, weak buying power, and a trade deficit that reached a record of 70 billion euros in 2011. For Francois Hollande, the challenge is immense and the responsibility is historical. He will, with the high-mindedness that characterizes him, hold up the sense of statehood that always singled him out, with an unwavering commitment to serve his country. On this May 6, 2012, the sovereign people spoke, and they elected a new President, Francois Hollande. And now, make room for change!
Follow Bruno Le Roux on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrunoLeRoux
Europe and France faces serious economic, cultural and political challenges.
Let's hope Mr. Hollande upholds the genuine socialist values and doesn't settle for the liberal bourgeois doctrines.
"Today, the top corporate tax is 34.4 percent (compared to 15.8 percent in Germany) and France has a €96 billion budget shortfall, which caused it to lose its high credit rating. The absurd 35 hour week largely remains in effect. Here’s the most damning statistic: government spending now accounts of 56 percent of France’s GDP. It’s only higher in five other countries in the world – including Iraq and Cuba."
http://napoleonlive.info/did-you-know/france-2/
Too late.
The world economy, including the US is now destined to collapse.
Oh, my... more spending.
Good day, y'all.
Hollande only won 51 percent of the vote to Sarkozy's 48 percent - hardly a ringing endorsement for change. It will actually mean less change - since Hollande wants to keep everything as it is - low retirement age, wide benefits, open borders, lax crime policies, big spending, powerful unions. It was Sarkozy who tried change - and failed.
The parliamentary election, which will follow soon, will show if support for the Socialists is as strong as it was in the 1980s.
Also remember that 'change' then brought us Socialist President Mitterrand ordering the bombing of a Greenpeace ship. Very socialist and progressive work, indeed.
.
"Hope" and "Change" are two words politicians should avoid after Obama's abysmal failure here in America.
A 1.8% victory margin is big? It is almost as ambivalent a victory as you can have.
Much of the French populace feel that they are bearing the burden of "bailing out" the French banks whose "portfolios" are burdened with Southern European bonds..... Since some of these banks are in part state-owned, the national treasury is "on the hook".....?
It would be very desirable if Goldman-Sachs, BofA, Citibank, Chase, et al. could be seized and liquidated, but that won't work and the yield, not nearly enough.....
Somehow the awe, respect, yea, worshipful thrall in which bankers and financiers are held MUST be BROKEN, their gains taxed progressively (not at 13.0%!!!!), and their power to bribe---albeit obliquely---must be quashed.
All the same, most "Murkans" don't appreciate this "process"---much less bother to vote!!!!