As predicted, the conservative CiU (Convergence and Union) won the elections in Catalunya, with the worst bofetada (literally meaning a slap in the face) ever for the PSC (Catalan Socialist Party). Mas, leader of the CiU, is just 6 short of a majority in the Parliament of Catalunya. Probably the best option for him is [...]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a tough test of her government today as the 1,244 elected representatives vote for a new President. The highly symbolic position thus comes with a highly symbolic price ticket, acting almost as a motion of confidence in Merkel, her government and her austerity measures. The European press has been peculiarly [...]
It’s finally here and took me literally all afternoon to make. It’s my Party Election Broadcast for the Labour Party, as part of the House of Twits PEB competition, where I could stand to win an amazing £20.10, more than twice the cost it took to make! As you can see, I went with the [...]
A massive victory for the Parti Socialiste tonight, winning 21/22 regions in France. Sarkozy has finally made his mark on French history, it was thanks to him the Left won its highest score since the formation of the fifth republic (1958). Isn’t it beautiful? In PACA, I’m delighted to say we won our corner. Results [...]
Here are theresults for the First Round of the Regional Elections; Parti Socialiste: 29.5% UMP: 27% Europe Ecologie: 12.5% Front National: 11.7% Front de Gauche: 6.2% Modem: 4% Extreme Gauche: 3.7% Participation: VERY LOW around 46.5% Conclusions: This is the worst score the UMP has ever had. Sarkozy was nowhere to be seen the entire [...]
Tomorrow I return to France to help the Parti Socialiste in the Regional Elections on Sundays the 14th and the 22nd. I’ve written previously about the corner I’ll be fighting in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur here and here, and more recently about the polls predicting a socialist victory here. The lead is not restricted to PACA though, [...]
As I sort my life out in Spain and get back into regular blogging, I’m pleased to offer this bit of continuity. On the 14th and 21st of March, elections for the Conseils Regionals all over France will take place. These will be a decisive test for French politics because, as it stands, the Parti [...]
I have been working for our French colleagues in the Parti Socialiste for 6 months now, and though I don’t know what a Jedward is, I have been able to experience ‘continental democracy’. The debate about electoral reform in Britain has always been “PR or not to PR”, with the third way of AV or [...]
Since I wrote my last article (here) explaining the situation surrounding the elections of the Conseil Régional PACA (Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azur) we have had an important development! Hubert Falco, who was widely tipped as the man to wrangle PACA from the Socialists, has officially refused orders to lead the UMP list. The papers (including myself) were [...]
PACA is one of the 23 regions of France, it stands for Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azur. The capital is Marseilles, which holds the regional assembly where most of the elected Regional Councillors work. I visited there once when they had some sort of big session going on ; it’s rather like any other hemicycle based parliament, and [...]
