A series of short posts highlighting interesting points arising during the final countdown to the French presidential election. (I) – Storm in a “Whirlpool” It’s what we call “l’entre deux tours” (between the two rounds) of the French presidential election. And I can just sit back behind my computer and relax. All I […]
Politics
France Can Accept The Truth, But Cannot Stand The Lies
Mes enfants, it’s fast approaching squeaky bum time in France, with the first round of the 2017 presidential election due on the 23rd April. The political situation in France is, as I see it, similar to that of 2002, when far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of present-day Marine, reached the second round to everybody’s […]
Piggy-In-The-Middle: Even Centre-Ground Politics Can Be Cool
The result of the Dutch parliamentary elections, that took place on Wednesday 15th March, is a victory for the current prime minister, Mark Rutte. Although his party, the VVD, remain the largest political party in the Netherlands despite losing 8 parliamentary seats, Mark Rutte may face difficulties in forming a working coalition. It is probable […]
“Pardon My French, Madame Le Pen.”
Have you ever wondered about the origins of the expression “pardon my French”? Some say that it originated in the 19th century and was used as an apology by people who used French words in conversations. Nowadays it’s used apologetically after swearing. How wonderful language can be. I’m sure that Marine Le Pen, leader of […]
La Démocratie Menacée par….la Démocratie
Le référendum ne tient vraiment pas sa place au sein d’une démocratie représentative. Les résultats souvent aléatoires, ajoutés à l’aspect populiste des campagnes référendaires, peuvent nuire à la démocratie même qui lui permet d’exister. En accordant le droit de voter l’application de l’article 50 du traité de Lisbonne au parlement britannique, ce qui déclencherait le processus du « Brexit », la […]
Democracy Menaced by…Democracy
It’s ironic that former prime minister David Cameron put forward a referendum on Europe that now threatens the very nature of the parliamentary democracy that let him propose it in the first place. Of course, whether Cameron had any choice in the matter remains subject for debate. But the fact of the matter is that […]
“What’s up Doc?” – The UK’s Allergic Reaction to Brexit
I thought, at first, that in endorsing the UK parliament’s right to vote for the triggering of Article 50, the High Court ruling was a good thing. Having heard Theresa May’s views that it wouldn’t change her timetable or attitude, and other politicians saying that they were going to vote for Brexit anyway, has made […]
Politicians Have Taken the UK to the Brink of Extremism
Having left the UK in 1984, I am beginning to wonder if my motherland is not the outward looking and relaxed land that I thought it was. I love the UK, don’t get me wrong. I can assure you that, on the 24th June, I was one of the most upset persons in the EU, […]