It is a future I fear will be ours unless we do something to stop it. And it wasn't by a large margin.
PARIS (AP) — Socialist Francois Hollande defeated conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday to become France’s next president, heralding a change in how Europe tackles its debt crisis and how France flexes its military and diplomatic muscle around the world.
Sarkozy conceded defeat minutes after the polls closed, saying he had called Hollande to wish him “good luck” as the country’s new leader.
Exuberant crowds filled the Place de la Bastille, the iconic plaza of the French Revolution, to celebrate Hollande’s victory. He will be France’s first leftist chief of state since Francois Mitterrand was president from 1981 to 1995.
Sarkozy thanked his supporters and said he did his best to win a second term, despite widespread anger at his handling of the economy.
“I take responsibility … for the defeat,” he said.
Hollande’s former partner and mother of his four children, Segolene Royal, said she has a “feeling of profound joy to see millions and millions of French renew the tie to the left.”
“The French can be confident,” she said on France-2 television. “We will need everyone to help the country recover.” Royal faced off Sarkozy in the 2007 election.
Partial official results, with about half of the nationwide votes counted, showed Hollande with 50.8 percent compared to 49.2 percent for Sarkozy. The CSA, TNS-Sofres and Ipsos polling agencies predicted that Hollande will win with 51.8 percent to 53 percent, compared with 47 percent to 48.2 percent for Sarkozy. They made projections based on the vote count at select voting stations around the country.
Hollande wants to renegotiate a hard-won European treaty on budget cuts that Germany’s Angela Merkel and Sarkozy had championed. He wants more government stimulus, and more government spending in general despite concerns from markets that France needs to urgently trim its huge debts.
The election outcome could also have an impact on how long French troops stay in Afghanistan and how France exercises its military and diplomatic muscle around the world.
And don't forget that now strangely propehetic video for those of you who missed it:
Replies
The french have always been simple.
They are past simple, this is just plain stupid. First they let in all the muslims and now they think by turning to socialism life will get better. Doesn't anyone read or study history?
NAZI is an acronym for NATIONAL SOCIALIST.
In America, the Right is often criticized. Yes, the Right, you know, CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS. Who hate Abortion.
Yet the NAZI Party hated Christians, and promoted Abortion.
Which current belief system in America more closely resembles the NATIONAL SOCIALISTS. The Right Wing, Abortion-Hating, Christians - or the Left Wing, Abortion-Loving, Atheists ?
You figure it out.
You're going to join Muslims ?
"The enemy of your enemy is NOT ALWAYS your friend"
ANYBODY who sides with the Muslims in the upcoming American Civil War deserves what they get!
Thanks for the information.
Like mine ... at least they are half American! It's the brighter side argument.
Gee no kidding I have been telling you this for well over a year It is like I am talking to a wall none of you listened and now it is going to hit your ass ! ! Want to know more of what is to happen . . DAH asshole get re-elected one of the reasons a revolution is headed this way keep your powder dry as in a bit over 5 more months things get hot and bullets fly . . Learn Russian you will need it !
Yeah, right! Obama will station a carrier group in the Meditteranean----to whack ISRAEL!