What would a Fillon presidency mean for French foreign policy?

[webfact]

What would a Fillon presidency mean for French foreign policy?

 

 

PARIS: -- Widely tipped to be France’s next President, François Fillon stormed to victory in US-style primaries last weekend to become the centre-right’s candidate.

 

He is a social conservative and free marketeer but if he wins next year’s election, what about Fillon’s foreign policy, notably in the Middle East?

 

We asked François Nicoullaud, France’s former ambassador to Hungary and Iran.

 

Massoud Salari, Euronews: Do we already know François Fillon’s policy on the Middle East?

 

François Nicoullaud: “We can’t say that we know his policy, but what we do already know is Fillon’s attitude, his state of mind towards the big questions raised in the Middle East.

 

And it was felt that he had a fairly original position compared to that of the government or even his competitors in the centre-right primaries. He has, shall we say, adopted a stance that is more open to seeking pragmatic solutions rather than taking positions of principle which, in his view, tend to block situations.”

 

Massoud Salari, Euronews: What would a Fillon presidency mean for Iran?

 

François Nicoullaud: “What the Iranians can expect of François Fillon if he becomes president is actually a greater proximity, if we can put it that way, of France towards Iran, more of an opening up, a greater understanding of what Iran is and – to be precise – on the continuation of the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the six world powers.

 

I am convinced that François Fillon will fight, if necessary, for the continuation of this deal which, you know, is a little bit under threat. Because we don’t really know what Donald Trump is going to do.

 

It is possible that Donald Trump will break the deal. That is what he has implied. He has also said the contrary. We are going to enter a period of uncertainty. It is very important that the Europeans and, in particular, France show their commitment to this accord in a very clear way.”

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-01

[elgordo38]

If this turkey flies its good bye French workers. How could people vote for a guy that wants to eliminate 5 million jobs and extend the work week. Could happen I guess Trump got elected. 

[paulbj2]

Having lived in France for several years and in a couple of its immediate neighbours for several more, I have always found the French attitude to politics a bit strange.

 

If you ask the French whether they want to keep their exemplary health and welfare provisions, they will, of course, say yes (wouldn't we all), if you then say well then taxes and Social Security contributions will have to rise you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON!

 

If you ask if they think the government should take steps to increase job creation, naturally everyone says yes, but if you then say: in that case the government needs to reform the draconian employment laws so that employers they can shed some employees if market conditions dictate, you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON!

 

If you propose raising the retirement age in France because the income from current contributions is insufficient to cover the number of people benefiting from a pension, you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON! 

 

Essentially, the French don't just want their cake and eat it, they DEMAND their cake and eat it!

 

I don't envy any President to wants to undertake the sort of reforms Fillon is proposing; employment in the public sector in France has always been a "job for life" and the idea that he will drive a horse and cart through that concept is not going to go down well with public employees. The French have an absolute contempt for anything that smacks of  I can see trouble coming in France if he gets elected! Unfortunately for France, the choices are somewhat limited: a lame duck socialist in the shape of the detested Hollande or possibly another insipid socialist candidate, François Fillon with his Thatcherite ideas or the quasi-Fascist, anti-EU candidate Marine LePen; what a choice to have to make! 

[Gillyflower]

I voted for Fillon in the first round.  I have no idea of his policies, I didn't watch any of the TV debates.  But I like Fillon and I vote Right.  Just as I can't stand LePen or his daughter, so I wouldn't vote for them.  

Following up on Paulbj2..........There are two things that the French do extremely well.........go on strike at the drop of a hat and WHINGE.  No matter what, they WHINGE and they WHINGE and they WHINGE.

[Lannig]

Fillon isn't "centre-right" by any means. He's the toughest, most ultra-liberal and conservative rightmost wing of his party. People voted for him only because they wanted Sarkozy out and Juppé has too many ennemies in his party.

If he wants to actually do what he promises, France will enter a state of simili-civil war for months with general strikes and violent demonstrations, the whole economy will come to a halt.

I'm not even sure I can vote for him if he comes up facing Le Pen in the second round, as in the most likely scenario. And heck, I did happily vote for Chirac in 2002.

 

 

[DavidVincent]

On 12/1/2016 at 9:06 AM, paulbj2 said:

Having lived in France for several years and in a couple of its immediate neighbours for several more, I have always found the French attitude to politics a bit strange.

 

If you ask the French whether they want to keep their exemplary health and welfare provisions, they will, of course, say yes (wouldn't we all), if you then say well then taxes and Social Security contributions will have to rise you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON!

 

If you ask if they think the government should take steps to increase job creation, naturally everyone says yes, but if you then say: in that case the government needs to reform the draconian employment laws so that employers they can shed some employees if market conditions dictate, you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON!

 

If you propose raising the retirement age in France because the income from current contributions is insufficient to cover the number of people benefiting from a pension, you will then hear people screaming NON, NON, NON; mille fois NON! 

 

Essentially, the French don't just want their cake and eat it, they DEMAND their cake and eat it!

 

I don't envy any President to wants to undertake the sort of reforms Fillon is proposing; employment in the public sector in France has always been a "job for life" and the idea that he will drive a horse and cart through that concept is not going to go down well with public employees. The French have an absolute contempt for anything that smacks of  I can see trouble coming in France if he gets elected! Unfortunately for France, the choices are somewhat limited: a lame duck socialist in the shape of the detested Hollande or possibly another insipid socialist candidate, François Fillon with his Thatcherite ideas or the quasi-Fascist, anti-EU candidate Marine LePen; what a choice to have to make! 

Mostly wrong : the french are ready to tighten their belt if the government show the way: so far French government use and abuse public money,  having 3 ex-presidents who cost around 70,000/100,000 euro a month,  no regulation for the money spent by the deputies and senators (they all voted against such regulation a couple of month ago) and all the traditional lush an posh life style they continue to have while asking the middle class to save and understand, the french will not agree to these changes.

While limiting the help for unemployment and other things Fillon want to cut, will save a bit of money, the current tax evasion cost around 5 billions euro per year. So I would rather hire 5000 people to run after this tax evasion instead of cutting jobs.

They sold the highways to private companies and the public state still have to pay them for any work and maintenance on it while this sector make huge profit...So many things to say about those shitty governments France had for the last few decades....