Polling stations in France opened for presidential elections


nsnbc : 66,546 polling stations in France opened at 7 a.m. CET for the runoff between presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. Most polling stations are expected to close at 7 p.m. CET and preliminary results are expected in the evening.

Le Pen_Macron_Maj 2017_FranceFirst estimates will be published around 8 p.m. CET. The winner of the 2017 presidential runoff could not only shape key domestic policies but French foreign and economic policies. France, a NATO member, permanent UN Security Council member and the world’s sixth-biggest economy has a population that is deeply divided about economy and labor rights, sovereignty within the European framework, NATO policy, and other key issues of international, if not global importance.

The election campaign was marked and marred by bitter accusations, posturing, and media that, generally speaking, reported very little about substance while unproven allegations, alleged scandals and mudslinging was hyped in daily headlines.

During the last televised debate, Le Pen and Macron seemed to have loaded munitions, cocked their guns and were ready to shoot; Those who expected a rhetoric shooting match were satisfied, but those who had expected substance insted of rhetoric were disappointed. Tv-debates are about firing as many blanks as possible to get the highest score with as few life rounds as possible being fired. The two will be facing off in Sunday’s second and final round in presidential elections.

Le Pen fired a volley at Macron calling him out on being part of the establishment – more of the same – labor reform, unemployment – business-friendly liberal policy – and for being the favorite puppy of the system. Recalling the unpopular labor reform implemented by the administration of Francois Hollande and PM Valls, National Front presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen blasted Macron, saying “You are trying to forget that you have been a member of this government”.

Rothschild’s Puppy? The now liberal Macron and former socialist party member served as deputy secretary-general of the Élysée; A senior role in Hollande’s staff, from 2012 to 2014. In August 2014he was appointed as Minister of Economy and Finance in the second Prime Minister Valls cabinet. In this function he was at the forefront of pushing “business-friendly reforms” that had tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets and prompted a protracted standoff with labor unions. Macron served also as Minister of Economy between 2007 and 2008. It is also worth noting that Macron, in 2008, paid €50,000 to buy himself out of his government contract and took a highly-paid position at the Rothschild & Cie Banque.

Now “liberal” presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron retorted by trying to deny issues with unemployment and by accusing Le Pen of telling lies. Macron said: “Now, Marine Le Pen has spent three minutes trying to explain her strategy against unemployment in France, even though it does not exist. Your strategy is to tell a whole lot of lies about what has gone awry in this country, but you don’t really tell anything”. Probably recognizing that he had fired a blank at Le Pen who sat and smiled at him, Macron added that Le Pen is to much concerned with the past, and that even though one might presume that Macron should have loved to discuss all of his achievements in the past, but no.

Macron, liberal, supports globalization, more of and a stronger, or arguably more consolidated and powerful European Union. Macron promotes “necessary budget cuts in the French welfare system”, and a liberal economic policy. Le Pen, for her part, is not against the European Union per se, as many media would have it. Le Pen is, however, against further infringements on national sovereignty by unelected European Union bureaucrats, against globalization without accountability and national sovereignty, and for standing up for European values.

CH/L – nsnbc 07.05.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/05/07/polling-stations-in-france-opened-for-presidential-elections/

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