Hollande set to win, but just don't tell anyone

[Shah-i-Kot]

Hollande set to win, but just don't tell anyone

Scott Sayare

April 22, 2012


Sweet smell of success ... the Socialist Francois Hollande is set to oust Sarkozy. Photo: Reuters

AFTER months of noisy campaigning in the presidential race - rousing the crowds, pressing flesh, inundating Twitter - France's politicians and pollsters fell silent at midnight Friday, by law.
Until 8pm today, election day, when the last polling stations close in the first round of voting, the country's 10 presidential candidates may not give speeches or interviews, distribute flyers or update their campaign websites or Facebook pages.
And no media outlet, pollster, or citizen is to publish voting data of any kind - no leaked exit polls, no hints on Twitter - on pain of a fine of up to €75,000 ($95,500).
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Traditionally the initial results are released all at once at 8pm on election night. But this year, the great, borderless internet may disrupt the plans of the French authorities.
Media organisations in neighbouring Belgium and Switzerland - where interest in the French election runs high - intend to publish results from districts where polls close at 6pm as soon as they are available, about 6.30pm, 90 defiant minutes before authorised by French law.
Those announcements have set off a minor polemic in France about the value of the rules. Some have argued that they are critical to French democracy. Others call them outdated, ineffectual and absurd.
Already, Twitter users have begun dreaming up code words to communicate early election results, at the risk of incurring costly penalties.
The polls suggest today will not be a good day for the President, Nicolas Sarkozy. Francois Hollande is on course to become France's first Socialist president in 24 years.
The New York Times, Guardian News & Media


http://www.canberratimes.com.au/worl...421-1xdqf.html

[Shah-i-Kot]

Hollande pledges fast French troop exit from Afghanistan if elected


(Xinhua)

10:29, April 12, 2012

PARIS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- French Socialist presidential frontrunner Francois Hollande on Wednesday reiterated his promise to withdraw French troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012 if elected "unless there was a logistic impossibility."

"I've always said that the disengagement (in Afghanistan) would occur just after the presidential election to be completed by the end of 2012," the candidate said in a debate on state-run France 2 channel.

"There will be no change in my position. There will be no surprise. What I said I'll do. I'll say that during the NATO summit at the end of May, just after the presidential election," he added.

About 4,000 French soldiers are deployed on Afghan territories as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help local authorities restore security and crack down on Taliban insurgents

Since 2001, 82 French soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan.

France planned to bring home French soldiers by 2014. A quarter of the troops were expected to return to France by the end of this year.

Hollande repackaged his plan to renegotiate the European treaty "which provides only for disciplines and sanctions."

"I do not agree with this approach because I want growth. We must renegotiate the treaty. It's across Europe that we need recovery in a way the Europe can borrow and we can initiate works," the socialist candidate said.

The candidate set his "objective to create 150,000 jobs for the future and 500,000 generation contracts," and reach zero budget gap in 2017 if elected.

As to the sluggish economy, Hollande pledged to accelerate growth to 2 percent this year and to 2.5 percent by 2015.

A daily ifop poll showed Hollande ranking second with 27 percent of intentions of vote, one point behind incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy in the first-round election scheduled for April 22.

But he is expected to outpace Sarkozy after garnering 54 percent versus Sarkozy's 46 percent in the May 6 runoff.

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90777/7784770.html

[Al Hanif]

Yes, I think he will win.

I could, but as usual, I won't vote today.

[Shah-i-Kot]

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-04/22/content_15109733.htm

France votes to choose new president

Updated: 2012-04-22 21:51

By LI XIANG (chiandaily.com.cn)




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PARIS – Voters in France cast ballots on Sunday in the first round of the 2012 French president election amid voters'economic despair as the country is struggling with a weak economic growth and high unemployment rate.

Voters queue to cast their ballot at a polling station in the first round of the 2012 French presidential election in Paris, April 22, 2012. France goes to the polls on Sunday in the first round of its presidential election. [Photo/Wang Dong]

The incumbent French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival Francois Hollande are expected to beat the other eight candidates and go through the final runoff to be held on May 6.
Public opinion surveys have indicated that Hollande is favored to win the run-off, beating Sarkozy 57 percent to 43 percent during the second-round vote.
"Hollande is likely to win the election as people have been tired of Sarkozy as president and they want change," said Clement Verhille, a voter in Paris told China Daily. “He promised a lot five years ago but he failed to do enough.”
Around 44.5 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots for one of the 10 candidates. The last polling stations are scheduled to close at 8pm local time.
Some voters are disappointed by both Sarkozy and Hollande as they are unable to offer satisfying solutions for the economic problems and high unemployment rate.
"I'm not convinced by both candidates as they don’t have effective programs that could address the real issues that is facing France," a female voter who asked to be anonymous told China Daily.
France is struggling with a low economic growth and unemployment rate as high as 10 percent. Rating agency Standard & Poor's cut the country’s triple-A credit rating in January.
Experts said that although Hollande would appeal the voters by his promise to reform France's public sectors such as health and education, Sarkozy is viewed favorably on international issues such as the euro zone debt problems and the crisis in Syria.

[Al Hanif]

The last round is Hollande vs. Sarkozy.

[Shah-i-Kot]

Im pretty sure that Hollande will win.

[Friend]

Im pretty sure that Hollande will win.

I wish he wins but Le Pen is supporting sarkozay.

[Shah-i-Kot]

I wish he wins but Le Pen is supporting sarkozay.

I dont think that will matter at the end of the vote.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-26/hollande-maintains-election-lead-over-sarkozy-polls-find.html

Hollande Maintains Election Lead Over Sarkozy, Polls Find


By Carol Matlack - Thu Apr 26 18:22:01 GMT 2012


Enlarge image
Francois Hollande, Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election. Photographer: Philippe Wojazer/AFP/Getty Images



Socialist François Hollande would beat President Nicolas Sarkozy 55 per cent to 45 percent in the decisive second round of French presidential voting on May 6, according to a poll released today by survey group TNS Sofres.
A separate poll by Ifop/Fiducial showed Hollande ahead 54.5 percent to 45.5 percent. Both polls found little change in voters’ second-round intentions since the first round of voting on April 22.
According to the TNS Sofres poll, 51 percent of voters who supported National Front candidate Marine Le Pen in the first round would vote for Sarkozy in the second round, while 16 percent would support Hollande and 33 percent would abstain.
Hollande won 28.6 percent of votes, followed by Sarkozy with 27.4 and Le Pen with 17.9 percent in first round voting on April 22.