French and European Elections

krish

Probably a mezzanine between 5 and 6, rather than something like Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station.

robel

Le Pen will be over the moon......

Riots outside Paris after police claim an officer’s alleged rape of a black man was an accident

pandemic

The upcoming German elections are looking interesting, Merkel looked certain to win the election a couple of months back, but since Martin Schulz (former President of the EU parliament) took leadership of the SDP there has been a huge swing in his favour. He's basically neck and neck with her in the polls, but has all the momentum; so the good news is the populist AfD is losing ground in the run up to the election.

hdsport

Some polls out tonight from Ifop, the first showing it as very close for who is going to face Le Pen.

Macron 19.5% Fillon 18.5% (Le Pen 26%)
Europe Elects on Twitter

Then a couple of theoretical head to heads,

Fillon 56% Le Pen 44%
Europe Elects on Twitter

Macron 62% Le Pen 38%
Europe Elects on Twitter

robel

More civil unrest in France this last week...

"For almost two weeks, the outskirts of Paris and other major French cities have erupted in often violent protests: cars set ablaze, rioting late into the night."

‘Justice must pass’: French president makes rare appearance in Paris suburbs to address riots

rancidpunk

A gesture that is sadly too late from Hollande. There's quite a history of peacekeepers doing the exact opposite of keeping the peace, and usually that incites this type of response.

Cliff

A shooting in central Paris this evening.. One police officer dead and two seriously wounded. There was a shoot out in the Champs Elysees.
  Its looking like a terrorist attack as the security services admitted the attacker was known to them.

With the first round of the Presidential election on Sunday this could effect the result....as security in the country becomes a major concern.

Marv

Everything seems to be going as planned. Le Pen is in the lead if The Telegraph is to be believed. Even says if she wins it could bring about the end of the EU. As great as crashing the EU without any survivors would be i can't see it happening just yet.

mikeybabes2

Don't be so quick to wish for the collapse of the EU. Whilst I want us to be out of the EU, I do wish everyone who wishes to remain the best for the future.

Whilst I believe that the EU will fail in the end - I strongly hope that this will be as far into the future as possible. The UK needs time to diversify its interests and develop its trade links as widely as possible. When the EU does fail there will be a lot of pain, and as usual it will not fall on those who did the failing....

krish

I doubt the leader of the holocaust deniers will win the second round, but I'll shed no salty tears for @Marv to drink if she does