France's Presidential Elections: Hollande, the Fascists and the Fightback
Elections in France: Hollande, the fascists and the fightback How much economic austerity and how much rabid islamophobia is the next president likely to serve up to French workers, and what are the prospects for a radical left alternative? John Mullen reports from Paris The presidential elections here will take place in two rounds, on the 23rd April and the 7th May 2017. Anyone who can get the supporting signature of 500 elected officials (from among the 47 000 in France) can stand in the first round. The two who receive the biggest number of votes go on to the run-off. In 2012, on a high turnout of 80%, Sarkozy for the Right got 27% in the first round, and Hollande for the Socialist Party 28%, and Hollande won the second round. Since then, his dreadful record on unemployment, state repression and destroying workers’ rights have thrown his party and the whole of the Left into turmoil. The nature of public debate in any major election depends on the general balance of forces betwe...