Explain the significance of France's election

[ArizonaTeach]

Fight my ignorance, please. I see reports on the current presidential election in France between conservative candidate Sarkozy and socialist candidate Royal (and I know that those terms mean far, far different things in France than they do in America). Apparently, Sarkozy is ahead in the polls by a comfortable percentage. I'm wondering what this means. Who are these people, what do they represent, is this election surprising people, and what does this ultimately mean for America - is one candidate more supportive or combative towards the US?

[ultrafilter]

See this story (http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9005194) from The Economist for a quick background. Basically, France's economy is has some issues, and one of the candidates (Nicolas Sarkozy, who has a good chance of winning) seems to be prepared to undertake the necessary reforms to get it moving in the right direction.

[BrainGlutton]

See this (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=417837) ongoing thread.

[Ignatz]

One is that they have a huge turnout because they hold them on Sundays. We should do the same.

[Nametag]

Is the presidency an important office in France? I thought that the prime minister was the head of government, with the president in a largely symbolic role, rather like the Queen of England.

[asterion]

One is that they have a huge turnout because they hold them on Sundays. We should do the same.A Sunday in November? No way. That's football time.

[Frank]

One is that they have a huge turnout because they hold them on Sundays. We should do the same.
I vaguely agree with Asterion. At least on Tuesday's, people are out and about. I don't see where voting on Sunday's will garner more turnout.

Voting is not required here, and if people don't want to vote, they won't.

What, precisely, is gained by a greater turnout of those who don't care is a question that continues to bewilder me.

[Elendil's Heir]

Is the presidency an important office in France? I thought that the prime minister was the head of government, with the president in a largely symbolic role, rather like the Queen of England.

No, the French changed their constitution at Charles De Gaulle's behest in the early 1960s, and provided for a very strong presidency. The president serves a six-year term, IIRC, essentially runs French foreign affairs, and dominates national security policy. He picks a prime minister who often becomes the fall guy if the president's own popularity droops or a controversial policy trial balloon deflates. The French presidency is arguably more powerful in its political system than the U.S. presidency is in its.

[ArizonaTeach]

See this (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=417837) ongoing thread.Dang it. My searching skillz blow. Thanks, BG!

[Larry Borgia]

It's significant if you're French.

[Sri Theo]

Or in the EU, as the President of France has great ability to shape it's direction.

[Montgomery0]

I vaguely agree with Asterion. At least on Tuesday's, people are out and about. I don't see where voting on Sunday's will garner more turnout.

Voting is not required here, and if people don't want to vote, they won't.

What, precisely, is gained by a greater turnout of those who don't care is a question that continues to bewilder me.

Well, if you aren't going to vote, you won't vote on Tuesday or on Sunday. So if you don't care, you won't be counted anyway. I don't think voting is required in France either, but they seem to be much more interested in it than we are in America.

If you work (and usually if you're poor and need to work several jobs or have multi-hour bus/train commutes,) having to detour to a voting area before or after work can sometimes be a huge ordeal, especially if there are lines. Having the election on Sunday, a day which most people have as off, would allow those who WANT to vote, but CAN'T on a workday, vote

I would say a better, but unfeasible, compromise would be to declare a national holiday on Election Day. That way you wouldn't have to worry about getting to work and you could watch football on Sunday. :D

[Elendil's Heir]

Royal conceded just a few minutes after the polls closed. Sarkozy won.

And I gotta ask... Am I the only person whom he reminds of a Twin Peaks character? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Palmer

[Sublight]

The president serves a six-year term, ...

nitpick: 5 years. It used to be 7 years, but this was changed in 2002.

[Captain Carrot]

If you work (and usually if you're poor and need to work several jobs or have multi-hour bus/train commutes,) having to detour to a voting area before or after work can sometimes be a huge ordeal, especially if there are lines. Having the election on Sunday, a day which most people have as off, would allow those who WANT to vote, but CAN'T on a workday, vote.
Arrghh. You took my post. Ditto. A sizable number of people don't vote because they can't afford to take the time off of work and the lines at the polling places are enormous, not because they don't care.

[Alessan]

I would say a better, but unfeasible, compromise would be to declare a national holiday on Election Day. That way you wouldn't have to worry about getting to work and you could watch football on Sunday. :D
Why is it unfeasible? We have that here, and it works fine.

[Squink]

Cars burnt, police hurt in French election violence (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070507/wl_nm/france_election_violence_dc_1) Hundreds of people were arrested in France overnight in clashes between police and protesters who torched cars following conservative Nicolas Sarkozy's victory in Sunday's presidential election, police said.

Official figures released early on Monday said demonstrators set fire to 367 cars and injured 28 policemen across France, and 270 people were arrested in the violent protests against the tough-talking former interior minister.

[chappachula]

Cars burnt, police hurt in French election violence (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070507/wl_nm/france_election_violence_dc_1)
as opposed to the routine violence in france, where every day of the year about 100 cars are burned.

On election night, scattered violence was reported across France. Police reported that 270 people were taken in for questioning and that 367 parked vehicles had been torched. On a typical night in France, about 100 cars are burned. cite (http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110010039)

I find it incredible that "only" 100 cars a night is normal and acceptable behavior. Yes, I know that America has more gun violence-- but that is by individual criminals, who often end up in jail. France seems to prefer societal violence, where entire an entire sector of society goes on the rampage every night.

[Martin Hyde]

I do think it is embarrassing for France that their people seem to riot like petulant children as a means of expressing their feelings on the politics of the day.

For Americans, I'm not sure Sarkozy is going to mean much to us. Him and Chirac are not very different in their foreign policy views.

For France's economy I think Sarkozy is going to be essential, although I also think his desire to do what is best for the French economy instead of what is most acceptable to the French people will make him widely controversial. I imagine he'll be remembered well historically but incredibly controversial during his actual Presidency.

[John Mace]

Arrghh. You took my post. Ditto. A sizable number of people don't vote because they can't afford to take the time off of work and the lines at the polling places are enormous, not because they don't care.
I doubt that this is significant. Oregon has vote-by-mail only, and it still comes in lower than some states that use the traditional method. In 2004 the highest turnout was in MN, at 77%, compared to 71% in OR. You can also look at a state like Ca where anyone can vote by mail if he or she likes (I have been doing so for over a decade): 2004 voter turnout was about 60%, right at the national average (actually about .5% lower).

[DMC]

I doubt that this is significant. Oregon has vote-by-mail only, and it still comes in lower than some states that use the traditional method. In 2004 the highest turnout was in MN, at 77%, compared to 71% in OR. You can also look at a state like Ca where anyone can vote by mail if he or she likes (I have been doing so for over a decade): 2004 voter turnout was about 60%, right at the national average (actually about .5% lower).But Minnesota allows you to register at the polls on election day, whereas it's a bit more problematic for some people in other states.

[marshmallow]

When the MSM is discussing French issues it's very common to show footage of France's president. With the election of Royal we could've had a little bit more sexiness injected into our news coverage instead of some old man. An opportunity missed, I suppose...

[John Mace]

But Minnesota allows you to register at the polls on election day, whereas it's a bit more problematic for some people in other states.
Well, North Dakota doesn't even require voter registration at all (just show a valid ID), and they had 65% turnout in 2004. Better than the national average, but not by much.

I'm not saying you can't do things to increase voter turnout, just that I doubt "long lines" on election day is the main problem.