Macron's party set for huge French parliamentary majority

[webfact]

Macron's party set for huge French parliamentary majority

By Ingrid Melander and Michel Rose

 

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte leave the polling station after voting in the first of two rounds of parliamentary elections in Le Touquet, France, June 11, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

 

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron's fledgling party is set to trounce France's traditional main parties in a parliamentary election, according to projections after the first round on Sunday, and secure a huge majority to push through his pro-business reforms.

 

The results, if confirmed, deliver a further crushing blow to the Socialist and conservative parties that had alternated in power for decades until Macron's election in May blew apart the left-right divide that had shaped French politics.

 

Pollsters said well over 30 percent of voters had picked Macron's party in the first round, a result that they said could deliver him as many as three-quarters of the seats in the lower house after next week's second round.

 

That would give France's youngest leader since Napoleon a powerful mandate with which to make good on campaign pledges to revive France's fortunes by cleaning up politics and easing regulations that investors say hobble the euro zone's second biggest economy.

 

"The French people have shown that they want us to move quickly," said government spokesman Christophe Castaner.

 

Both the Socialists and the conservative Republicans party warned voters against concentrating too much power in the hands of one party in the second round.

 

Macron professes to be neither right nor left. His one-year-old Republic on the Move (LREM) party fielded both seasoned veterans and political novices including a former bullfighter, a fighter pilot and a former armed police commander.

 

"It's a renewal of the political class," said Jose Jeffrey, a Health Ministry administrator who voted LREM. "I’ve known people who have been members of parliament for 40 years."

 

"UNPRECEDENTED SETBACK"

 

Projections by three pollsters of LREM's tally after the second round ranged from 390 to 445 of the assembly's 577 seats - potentially the biggest majority since president Charles De Gaulle's conservatives won more than 80 percent of seats in 1968.

Macron, a former investment banker, wants a "big bang" of economic and social reforms, including an easing of stringent labour laws and reform of an unwieldy pension system.

 

The pro-European leader's programme enjoys strong support among liberal, well-educated voters in France's big cities, but he is less popular in poorer, rural areas.

 

Sunday's projections pointed to another torrid night for the two main traditional parties, which have suffered high-profile defections to Macron’s government and party.

 

Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, head of the Socialist party that was in power until a month ago, acknowledged that the first round marked an "unprecedented" setback for the party, set to win a paltry 30-40 seats, and the broader left.

 

"It is neither healthy nor desirable for a president who gathered only 24 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidentials and who was elected in the second round only by the rejection of the extreme right should benefit from a monopoly of national representation," Cambadelis said.

 

Francois Baroin, who led the campaign of the conservative Republicans, projected to win 80-100 seats, echoed the sentiment.

 

Very few lawmakers are expected to be elected directly in the first round. To win, a candidate needs more than half of the votes cast, and they must account for at least a quarter of the registered voters - doubly challenging as the national turnout was below 50 percent.

 

(Additional reporting by Cecile Mantouani, Antoine Boddaert in Paris, and Gabriela Baczynska and Charlotte Steenackers in Brussels; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-12

[canuckamuck]

I have no idea how complicated the French voting system is, but it seems to me he has won this election about 10 times in the last few weeks.

 

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

I have no idea how complicated the French voting system is, but it seems to me he has won this election about 10 times in the last few weeks.

 

 

The last election was for President of France - which he won. This latest one is for MP's that will take seats in the parliament. His, very new political party is predicted to win handsomely. 

 

That means he can implement policies and changes and new laws much more easily with little opposition.

 

He's been very vocal - first to support UK after terrorist attacks; meetings with Putin and Merkel; talk again of wanting EU reform; criticizing Trump; offering to mediate for Qatar etc. French people will like this pushing France back on the world stage. However, once he starts his internal reforms we will see how popular he remains.

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

The last election was for President of France - which he won. This latest one is for MP's that will take seats in the parliament. His, very new political party is predicted to win handsomely. 

 

That means he can implement policies and changes and new laws much more easily with little opposition.

 

He's been very vocal - first to support UK after terrorist attacks; meetings with Putin and Merkel; talk again of wanting EU reform; criticizing Trump; offering to mediate for Qatar etc. French people will like this pushing France back on the world stage. However, once he starts his internal reforms we will see how popular he remains.

You failed to note his hostility to Brexit. Remember how not long ago Brexiteers were hailing the advent of the Age of Le Pin? And how Merkel was on her way out and with her, the EU?

[canuckamuck]

21 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

You failed to note his hostility to Brexit. Remember how not long ago Brexiteers were hailing the advent of the Age of Le Pin? And how Merkel was on her way out and with her, the EU?

There was a brief period of hope wasn't there?

[Baerboxer]

1 minute ago, ilostmypassword said:

You failed to note his hostility to Brexit. Remember how not long ago Brexiteers were hailing the advent of the Age of Le Pin? And how Merkel was on her way out and with her, the EU?

 

I don't think the word hostility is appropriate. He was, and has expressed, sadness, disappointment, regret and genuine concern that Britain will apparently leave the EU. 

He has also strongly expressed his belief and desire that the EU must reform and cannot continue as is. Something that will likely bring him into Merkel as currently it's looking like she will be re-elected. When he made his comments about EU reforms she was quick to comment that she did not see this as a priority need. 

 

France have been very lucky. Macron has really come at a time when European countries need leaders that will challenge the norms, will be pragmatic and realistic, and will have the courage to take on the EU mandarins, the bureaucrats at home, and face up to the social and political issues that need addressing. Without him, Le Pen might well have been the President. Macron is looking good in the early days, pleasantly surprised, but we'll see when the honeymoon period is over.

 

A lot of people in France, Germany and Italy are far more Euro and EU sceptic than ever before. But they aren't necessarily supporters of the extreme right and/or realize that the best way to change something is by remaining and being part of the discussions and decision making processes. Not by going off because you can't get your own way easily.

 

The British referendum was a farce, but a costly unfunny one. Cameron called it to try and squash dissent in his own party and thwart Conservatives defecting to UKIP. He was arrogant or stupid enough to do so without including rules on winning % etc. The leave campaigners, Farage, Boris, Gove, et al lied, repeatedly, and stirred up fears and worries to motivate enough people to win. Many Remain supporters didn't bother voting as they didn't expect many to vote Leave. Classic mistake. Many of those lies have been exposed leaving many furious. It was clear whether Tory or UKIP, none had a clue what to do next. May can't give any details, before, during, or after this election of what a good deal would look like. Clueless. The British people have punished her.

 

Had Corbyn fought the election on aborting Article 50 he may well have been preparing his Queen's speech now. But the UK didn't have a Macron, someone who said very clearly that the EU can't continue and must be reformed; and that must be done by being inside. They only had chancers, liars, and those representing the interests of a few and themselves. Corbyn isn't and EU fan and it showed. If he'd campaigned and fought for Remain as hard as he fought this election the UK could possible still be in the EU with a different government that's more in line with other EU countries.

 

 

 

 

[ilostmypassword]

34 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I don't think the word hostility is appropriate. He was, and has expressed, sadness, disappointment, regret and genuine concern that Britain will apparently leave the EU. 

He has also strongly expressed his belief and desire that the EU must reform and cannot continue as is. Something that will likely bring him into Merkel as currently it's looking like she will be re-elected. When he made his comments about EU reforms she was quick to comment that she did not see this as a priority need. 

 

France have been very lucky. Macron has really come at a time when European countries need leaders that will challenge the norms, will be pragmatic and realistic, and will have the courage to take on the EU mandarins, the bureaucrats at home, and face up to the social and political issues that need addressing. Without him, Le Pen might well have been the President. Macron is looking good in the early days, pleasantly surprised, but we'll see when the honeymoon period is over.

 

A lot of people in France, Germany and Italy are far more Euro and EU sceptic than ever before. But they aren't necessarily supporters of the extreme right and/or realize that the best way to change something is by remaining and being part of the discussions and decision making processes. Not by going off because you can't get your own way easily.

 

The British referendum was a farce, but a costly unfunny one. Cameron called it to try and squash dissent in his own party and thwart Conservatives defecting to UKIP. He was arrogant or stupid enough to do so without including rules on winning % etc. The leave campaigners, Farage, Boris, Gove, et al lied, repeatedly, and stirred up fears and worries to motivate enough people to win. Many Remain supporters didn't bother voting as they didn't expect many to vote Leave. Classic mistake. Many of those lies have been exposed leaving many furious. It was clear whether Tory or UKIP, none had a clue what to do next. May can't give any details, before, during, or after this election of what a good deal would look like. Clueless. The British people have punished her.

 

Had Corbyn fought the election on aborting Article 50 he may well have been preparing his Queen's speech now. But the UK didn't have a Macron, someone who said very clearly that the EU can't continue and must be reformed; and that must be done by being inside. They only had chancers, liars, and those representing the interests of a few and themselves. Corbyn isn't and EU fan and it showed. If he'd campaigned and fought for Remain as hard as he fought this election the UK could possible still be in the EU with a different government that's more in line with other EU countries.

 

 

 

 

That's not the Macron that's being reported on in the press

Emmanuel Macron snubs Theresa May on post-Brexit trade deal talks

French President Emmanuel Macron today brushed off Theresa May’s request for early talks on a trade deal with the EU after Brexit.

http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/emmanuel-macron-snubs-theresa-may-on-post-brexit-trade-deal-talks/688101/

 

[Stocky]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

However, once he starts his internal reforms we will see how popular he remains.

Indeed, there's the rub! But if France is to be competitive then labour laws need revision. Both left and right have previously promised reform but neither have had the courage, or a sufficiently big enough mandate, to poke that hornets' nest. It looks like Macron will have both. 

[dunroaming]

Macron is in his honeymoon period at the moment and is saying all the right things as far as the French people are concerned.  He will certainly make France stronger again and with Merkel they should strengthen the recently weakened EU.

[manarak]

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

However, once he starts his internal reforms we will see how popular he remains.

yes... but that is a small price to pay to "repair" France.

He will be France's Gerhard Schröder or so I hope, but he has more work to do on France than Schröder had to do to save Germany.

 

These vote results are the best thing that could happen to France, apparently the French are less politically stupid than I feared, they did the right thing as their clock is ticking and running out of time.

 

I trust Macron's character, I hope he will be able to reform France enough in these five years. Good luck!

[manarak]

4 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

That's not the Macron that's being reported on in the press

Emmanuel Macron snubs Theresa May on post-Brexit trade deal talks

French President Emmanuel Macron today brushed off Theresa May’s request for early talks on a trade deal with the EU after Brexit.

http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/emmanuel-macron-snubs-theresa-may-on-post-brexit-trade-deal-talks/688101/

 

why should he care?

Theresa May and most of UK Brexiteers are too full of themselves, I only hear them asking for a "deal" - it seems they are obsessed with getting a "good deal" as they repeat on TV.
I wonder what they are talking about - what's the UK's trump? (haha, pun intended)

UK actually did the EU some favor by exiting, especially regarding the financial markets.

I see no reason for the EU to continue to treat UK banks the same as EU banks...