Spluttering as we are under the deluge of legal and illegal immigration, I wonder if many noticed the move by the Government of France to positively establish the claims by the relatives of migrants to allow them access to France?

As can be checked from the link, the French Government has instituted a fairly logical series of DNA and other tests which will establish without doubt the veracity of parental- or relative-based claims for any migrant based move. The would-be immigrants would have to prove that they also had a working knowledge of the French language, deliver proof that their prospective family members in France could support them, prove that they could earn at least the minimum wage and deliver an appreciation of French values.

Now you might consider the above abbreviated list, with maybe the exception of French values, as one which would be both acceptable and achievable; especially as the claimants are stating that they are family members, and all the French authorities are proposing is to conduct a series of tests to prove that these people are who they claim they are, and the balance of the tests are to establish whether the new migrants know a little about the country which they intend making their home.

Can you imaginer the fury, uproar and shouts of ‘Discrimination’ and ‘Racist behaviour’ from the likes of Shami Chakrabarti, Amnesty International or even my local branch of the Flat Earth Society if anyone suggested, even in the mildest fashion, that similar checks could be made some twenty-two miles across the English Channel?

Hats off to the French for passing a bill tightening entry conditions for the relatives of immigrants living in France. Under the legislation, the relatives will have to prove they are solvent financially and can speak French. It also includes plans for DNA testing of foreigners seeking to join family members living in France. What common sense! Naturally the leftists over there have already spoken out against this but what else to expect from a pig than a grunt? Let’s see if Gordon Brown has the guts to follow Sarkozy! This may not be perfect but it is a step in the right direction and evidence that the French have some interest in preserving their Nation. Has Britain?

Do you like cheese? I do – I love the so many different varieties of this fine food, and have a particular liking for..gasp..French cheeses! (And the fine French wine that best accompanies these!) But guess what? My love of cheese is endangering the Planet apparently, and along with most meats, I’m going to have to give it up – should I choose to listen to Ruth Fairchild from the University of Wales. She reckons that there is a lot of energy used to produce cheese along with feeding most forms of livestock and this is maximising our environmental footprint. It seems though that whilst we will lose cheese and most meats, we keep lentils, eggs, milk veggies and bread. Back to the Stone Age then – and au revoir my beloved Brie!

Yup, what a great triumph that man Sarkozy is turning out to be. Enthusiastic supporter of railroading through the Dictator’s Charter through the back door without a vote, openly offering Blair the European Presidency which would be created thereby in exchange for cooperation in doing so, the man just gets better and better.

And now the man who is going to save France from its gradual socialist meltdown, who will sweep away the sclerotic and bloated Unions and other vested interests which have kept it static, has shown his commitment to economic reform…

By making sure the ‘new’ treaty drops the EU’s commitment to free markets and enshrines the right to continued massive state aid for France’s featherbedded loss-makers. Way to go, Sarko. I can see your sincerity for reform really shining through that crocodile grin…

Isn’t it funny how often political analysts and pundits are wrong? And isn’t it grand that they were wrong about France? Publius Pundit THinks so:

“Whodathunk?

After all, isn’t France the country that four years ago was branded ‘cheese-eating surrender monkeys’ for its opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq? Wasn’t France solidly socialist to the bone? Weren’t there a lot of analyses out saying that the French abhorred change, couldn’t lift itself from its cafes, hated globalization and definitely didn’t want a wild man like Sarkozy as president out wrecking the country? It’s just amazing how mistaken so many observers were. There’s a whole different country out there that none of them, neither enemy nor familiar, really seemed to know…

…There’s no doubt Sarko wants change. But he wants it for different reasons than leftists often do. Leftists want to create a New Man. Sarko wants to save France so that it can be France, not turn it into another cookie-cutter Berkeley or Ann Arbor, as has been happening. Sarko’s a flag-waver. He’s extremely passionate and energetic, and he will make a difference. His proposed economic programs to keep France powerful and competitive, will do just that, as French voters read it, because that’s a big issue that resonated.”

From zombietime:
“Remember "Freedom Fries"?
When France refused to participate in the war against Saddam Hussein in 2003, many Americans were angry with the French, and showed their displeasure by renaming French Fries as "Freedom Fries."

But now with the May 6 election of new French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a leader who is strongly pro-American, the French have once again shown that they are America’s allies, and have reached out their hands to us in friendship.

In that spirit, I recommend that everyone who ever referred to their French Fries as "Freedom Fries" now change the name once again, this time to a more appropriate moniker that shows our appreciation for our long-standing frères the French. Henceforth, I suggest that French Fries be renamed…"

Sarkozy wins. Closer than the polls called it. Doesnt surprise me! Interesting to note that the biggest uptake of voting papers for these elections was in the banlieues. Link to follow. Despite the incredible turnout today, reports so far show very little disturbances or problems so far.  Several voting stations were vandalized in Paris and as i mentioned some 3,000 CRS (hardcore riot police) are on standby to marshall both the celebrations expected in the Champs Elysees (exactly as for the World Cup in truth) and most importantly manning train stations servincing the banlieues- after Segos petulant suggestion they riot if she loses..At the moment though there is a fantastic atmosphere here in France and its been a great day for democracy with a huge turnout. Well done France.

Should point out that the Socialists had everything riding on this so I wonder if Sego will stay – the Socialists are pretty crushed in defeat really so it will be interesting to see what this does to them. She was right in her speech just now to say this is a new page for democracy. Meanwhile the idiot journos are on their mopeds chasing Sarko – and one of them just fell off. Such a great day.

First words out of his mouth in his victory speech? "I love France" – i would LOVE to hear a British politician ever say the same! He goes on to talk about nationality, pride, unity oh and pride again. Heh.

"I would like to say to our American friends that they can count on our friendship, accepting we may not always see eye to eye"

"I want to say to women of the world who live in fear, who live in fear under the burqa – France will not abandon you".

Cartoon from last year: Is he still the President? I thought it was the short one?

Wednesday’s debate changed very little other than to briefly offer Sego as a tougher less gaff prone candidate. But not tough enough. 90% of the French had decided by late Friday and the polls indicate Sarko will win. Im still here in France following it all avidly as I have for the last year really – hopeful that France will indeed, as Sarko put it, rid itself of the legacy of 1968.

Following the debate and the polls indicating a Sarko win Sego got increasingly desperate. Even with Bayrou, the centrist calling on his voters not to vote for Sarko and left wing broadsheet Le Monde endorsing Sego on Friday, the polls still indicated a Sarko win. Nothing is ever assured though (I dont think).

Both candidates have used the banlieues and violence as integral to their campaigns (or pre campaigns). Sarko did so at the start last year when he suggested that the scum who caused it should be blasted out with a karsher (high power jets that France uses to clean its streets).  Sego finished her campaign addressing les banlieues – but her desperation was borderline ridiculous on Friday. With TV images of her flanked by muslims she later suggested in an interview that democracy was threatened (quite the opposite in fact Ms Royal) and that violence would erupt in the banlieues if Sarko was elected. Is this a prediction or borderline incitement?

Sarkozy responded:

"To explain that if people don’t vote for one candidate there will be violence is quite simply to refuse the democratic and republican expression of opinion. We’ve never seen this before, never. It’s a worrying form of intolerance."

She then inevitably compared him to Bush:

(Sarkozy) imitates George W. Bush in this technique of compassionate conservative. One cries over people. The various facts are used and, when one is at responsibilities, one does not act for the present and one promises for tomorrow. See the election campaigns of Bush, but, when there was the catastrophe of New-Orleans, one did not see it on the ground!…(Sarkozy) carries the same neoconservative ideology."

Sarkozy replied:

"Instead of explaining her propositions and criticizing mine, she has wanted to caricature me…I am myself, I defend my own ideas."

France is going to the polls to a elect a New Generation President. I hope there is no last minute upset (not uncommon).  Nicolas Sarkozy has planned, a victory party for Sunday night to take place at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Much to the chagrin of the UK MSM, it looks like Nicolas Sarkozy has extended his lead over Segolene Royal in opinion polls two days ahead of the French presidential election. When I return to ATW on Monday, the people of France will have spoken and we will know who the winner is. I hope Sarkozy prevails and I can’t wait to see how this will annoy the "Royalists" at the BBC!!!

"The French left has this fantastic idea that anyone who does not share exactly their ideas is illegitimate, he said. We have debates and if I am not in agreement with them, I am brutal… I am a danger for democracy for the sole reason that I do not have leftwing ideas…"

And that is more or less what he was conscious of last night.  Aware that the socialists have little by way of substance but are keen to attack his bruiser reputation he approached the debate too cautiously and let her get the upper hand. Not in a rabid way though.  She just got far too much vacuous verbage in there.

The debate was dominated by the economy, youth, unemployment, violence, immigration and the EU. But both sides pretty much played it safe – neither will be picking up many votes from centre’s undecided voters.  Sego put Sarko on the backfoot simply because he was far too inclined to be the gentleman in order to avoid this Bruiser reputation. 

Apart from the one emotional (rather than rabid) spat about education for the handicapped – paraphrased in Dees post below, she merely presented her tax-and-spend policies for change on the table which Sarko then summarily crushed.  In summary: “That’s a stunning piece of detail. Can’t you give us a figure?” enquires Mr Sarkozy. Ms Royal: “No, I can’t.”

Blair on Sarko in Paris Match (French magazine) today: “You tell me that there are those who call Sarkozy the new Blair. Poor man. Thats a heavy burden to carry”