French Presidential and Legislative Elections 2017-News and Updates

[Vergennes]

@Philia @Nilgiri Fillon is in big trouble right now because of the Penelope affair and that he has been called by judges and could be charged. Many of his close supports have defected,even his spokesperson and campaign director (and it continues) more and more are calling him to give up fearing the right would loose the coming elections.
The UDI party (a center-right party) said they wouldn't support him anymore. Lot of phone calls between the Juppeists,Sarkozysts etc. The party is secretly planning a B plan. The names of Alain Juppé and François Baroin (a sarkozyst) are cited to take the place of François Fillon. Meanwhile,Fillon said he will not give up and called for a big demonstration to support him this sunday in Paris.

This campaign is getting interesting.

 

[LA se Karachi]

@Philia @Nilgiri Fillon is in big trouble right now because of the Penelope affair and that he has been called by judges and could be charged. Many of his close supports have defected,even his spokesperson and campaign director (and it continues) more and more are calling him to give up fearing the right would loose the coming elections.
The UDI party (a center-right party) said they wouldn't support him anymore. Lot of phone calls between the Juppeists,Sarkozysts etc. The party is secretly planning a B plan. The names of Alain Juppé and François Baroin (a sarkozyst) are cited to take the place of François Fillon. Meanwhile,Fillon said he will not give up and called for a big demonstration to support him this sunday in Paris.

This campaign is getting interesting.

Wow. Things are indeed getting interesting. I never expected that scandal to have so much of an effect. However, his home was just raided by the police.

It would be incredible to see Fillon step down, as many in his party are calling for. Juppé could take the reins, but I wonder how many in his party would be upset if he did. He might be a tougher match-up for Macron, but perhaps an easier one for Le Pen.

If the Republicans want to change their candidate, they should do so soon. Less than two months remain until the first round...

 

[Nilgiri]

@Philia @Nilgiri Fillon is in big trouble right now because of the Penelope affair and that he has been called by judges and could be charged. Many of his close supports have defected,even his spokesperson and campaign director (and it continues) more and more are calling him to give up fearing the right would loose the coming elections.
The UDI party (a center-right party) said they wouldn't support him anymore. Lot of phone calls between the Juppeists,Sarkozysts etc. The party is secretly planning a B plan. The names of Alain Juppé and François Baroin (a sarkozyst) are cited to take the place of François Fillon. Meanwhile,Fillon said he will not give up and called for a big demonstration to support him this sunday in Paris.

This campaign is getting interesting.

I get that he so wants to win and that it's possible the scandal has been overblown etc.

But even with those two things in mind, I feel Fillon should look at bigger picture for his party and step aside. Creating this much polarisation in his support will not get him past the 1st round even.

It may already be too late I think...so maybe its better he continues and tries his best and let the Macron vs Le Pen final round happen. Hard to say.

 

[Mage]

@Philia @Nilgiri Fillon is in big trouble right now because of the Penelope affair and that he has been called by judges and could be charged. Many of his close supports have defected,even his spokesperson and campaign director (and it continues) more and more are calling him to give up fearing the right would loose the coming elections.
The UDI party (a center-right party) said they wouldn't support him anymore. Lot of phone calls between the Juppeists,Sarkozysts etc. The party is secretly planning a B plan. The names of Alain Juppé and François Baroin (a sarkozyst) are cited to take the place of François Fillon. Meanwhile,Fillon said he will not give up and called for a big demonstration to support him this sunday in Paris.

This campaign is getting interesting.

There is news that Juppe will replace Fillon........A change at this point...I wonder how good it will work.........Juppe lost to Fillon fair and square in the party primary. I doubt a republican candidate be it Fillon or Juppe could make it to the second round at this point unless there are fresh scandals on Macron.

And a poll says Macron overtook Le Pen
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/...-pen-in-france-as-juppe-looms-over-fillon-bid

Polls don't mean much though.

How do you think Juppe will fare if he replaces Fillon? Fillon looked like a fit candidate to me. It's surprising what a minor scandal can do to a candidate in politics.

 

[Nilgiri]

unless there are fresh scandals on Macron.

What were the scandals regarding Macron?

Sheesh why are there so many scandals on everyone. Sacre bleu!

 

[Mage]

What were the scandals regarding Macron?

Sheesh why are there so many scandals on everyone. Sacre bleu!

Afaik there is no major scandal on Macron yet. His remark about French occupation in Algeria was supposed to cause him some problems but it doesn't seem that way.

 

[Vergennes]

There is news that Juppe will replace Fillon........A change at this point...I wonder how good it will work.........Juppe lost to Fillon fair and square in the party primary. I doubt a republican candidate be it Fillon or Juppe could make it to the second round at this point unless there are fresh scandals on Macron.

Juppé has no legetimacy as he lost badly the center-right primary,and add to that the fact that he only has beaten Sarkozy because of the hundred of thousands of leftist voters voting Juppé just to evict Sarkozy. That's the problem of open primaries. The sarkozysts will never accept to see Juppé taking Fillon's place nor the voters to see someone they didn't vote for.

And a poll says Macron overtook Le Pen
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/...-pen-in-france-as-juppe-looms-over-fillon-bid

Polls don't mean much though.

Of course they don't. Juppé was at 40% whereas Fillon was at 10-15%. Hamon "was already out",even before the socialist primary campaign begun. So,everthing is possible I would say,as people don't like to get influenced by polls.

How do you think Juppe will fare if he replaces Fillon? Fillon looked like a fit candidate to me. It's surprising what a minor scandal can do to a candidate in politics.

It's the prospect of being charged that hurts him. He always said he would give up if he was ever charged and was telling everywhere how clean he was compared to others. The 15th march,he would have to respond to judges and could be charged because of this affair.... this date is two days before the deadline for candidates to submit their applications. So,everything has to be fast if he finally gives up.

What were the scandals regarding Macron?

Sheesh why are there so many scandals on everyone. Sacre bleu!

Afaik there is no major scandal on Macron yet. His remark about French occupation in Algeria was supposed to cause him some problems but it doesn't seem that way.

I tend to believe that the justice is being manipulated to hurt especially two candidates : Fillon and Le Pen. How do you think they have problems with the justice weeks before the first round ? In fact,it doesn't really hurt Marine,it strengthens her,as she would call it a conspiracy to hurt her and shows that the 'system' wants to kill her.

As for Macron,there have been irregularities and incoherences when declaring his wealth,assets etc.,but why isn't the justice investigating ?

 

[Nilgiri]

In fact,it doesn't really hurt Marine,it strengthens her,as she would call it a conspiracy to hurt her and shows that the 'system' wants to kill her.

Thats pretty Trump-like.

As for Macron,there have been irregularities and incoherences when declaring his wealth,assets etc.,but why isn't the justice investigating ?

Ditto here too heh.

Everyone's learning the new political model pretty fast heh!

 

[Louiq XIV]

It would be incredible to see Fillon step down, as many in his party are calling for. Juppé could take the reins, but I wonder how many in his party would be upset if he did.

At this stage what wants the party is irrelevant it is what want the French voters that matters.
If "Les Républicains" start another internal dispute that last more than a couple of weeks before replacing Fillon then they will loose.

Afaik there is no major scandal on Macron yet. His remark about French occupation in Algeria was supposed to cause him some problems but it doesn't seem that way.

Some agree or disagree with what he said but he has the right to have an opinion (this thing called freedom of speech). Regarding Macron there is indeed something strange with his assets. That guy has earned 2.6 millions of €uros when he was a Rothschild banker and now has nothing (yes really nothing). He has to explain why he has sighlty more debts than assets having earned so much. There is something strange in this situation. Has a really spent 2.6 € millions in the last 5 years ? or has ... => where is the money.

I tend to believe that the justice is being manipulated to hurt especially two candidates : Fillon and Le Pen. How do you think they have problems with the justice weeks before the first round ?

For the first time I strongly disagree with you @Vergennes. Of course Fillon like others have all the attention of everyone now (justice, media ...). No conspiracy just normal situation. If Fillon don't want to see his life scrutinized then he must not try to be elected president. His defense is ludicrous and very bad.

 

[HannibalBarca]

At this stage what wants the party is irrelevant it is what want the French voters that matters.
If "Les Républicains" start another internal dispute that last more than a couple of weeks before replacing Fillon then they will loose.



Some agree or disagree with what he said but he has the right to have an opinion (this thing called freedom of speech). Regarding Macron there is indeed something strange with his assets. That guy has earned 2.6 millions of €uros when he was a Rothschild banker and now has nothing (yes really nothing). He has to explain why he has sighlty more debts than assets having earned so much. There is something strange in this situation. Has a really spent 2.6 € millions in the last 5 years ? or has ... => where is the money.





For the first time I strongly disagree with you @Vergennes. Of course Fillon like others have all the attention of everyone now (justice, media ...). No conspiracy just normal situation. If Fillon don't want to see his life scrutinized then he must not try to be elected president. His defense is ludicrous and very bad.

Juppé has no legetimacy as he lost badly the center-right primary,and add to that the fact that he only has beaten Sarkozy because of the hundred of thousands of leftist voters voting Juppé just to evict Sarkozy. That's the problem of open primaries. The sarkozysts will never accept to see Juppé taking Fillon's place nor the voters to see someone they didn't vote for.



Of course they don't. Juppé was at 40% whereas Fillon was at 10-15%. Hamon "was already out",even before the socialist primary campaign begun. So,everthing is possible I would say,as people don't like to get influenced by polls.



It's the prospect of being charged that hurts him. He always said he would give up if he was ever charged and was telling everywhere how clean he was compared to others. The 15th march,he would have to respond to judges and could be charged because of this affair.... this date is two days before the deadline for candidates to submit their applications. So,everything has to be fast if he finally gives up.




I tend to believe that the justice is being manipulated to hurt especially two candidates : Fillon and Le Pen. How do you think they have problems with the justice weeks before the first round ? In fact,it doesn't really hurt Marine,it strengthens her,as she would call it a conspiracy to hurt her and shows that the 'system' wants to kill her.

As for Macron,there have been irregularities and incoherences when declaring his wealth,assets etc.,but why isn't the justice investigating ?

Seems few among you forgot that lepen's problems is not new... It's been almost a year.
As for fillion case, nothing is fast, since the problem happened few months back, so ofc justice should do his job. It's not because it's the election, that we should let a thief go away... Just for the sake of it.
As for Macron, the wealth thing has no proof... yet.

Some of you think that lepen's is not hurt by those cases, you may be right for her hardcore voters, but if les républicains couldn't find a way out, a part of them will go to lepen's, but with her justice case, this number of new voters could be less than expected, and it will hurt her in the second round.

 

[LA se Karachi]

At this stage what wants the party is irrelevant it is what want the French voters that matters.
If "Les Républicains" start another internal dispute that last more than a couple of weeks before replacing Fillon then they will loose.

Well, I do think they should make a decision on Fillon soon. Not much time is left before the first round.

It's interesting to see how things have changed. With Holland's unpopularity, The Republicans' candidate was seen as the favorite to become President, even before the primary. After the primary, polls consistently showed Fillon to be the front-runner as well.

Now, it seems that things have been turned upside-down. It is Fillon who looks like he may not make it to the second round, if polls are to be believed. However, with so many candidates in the race, and many stories still developing, anything can happen.

Some of you think that lepen's is not hurt by those cases, you may be right for her hardcore voters, but if les républicains couldn't find a way out, a part of them will go to lepen's, but with her justice case, this number of new voters could be less than expected, and it will hurt her in the second round.

I agree. Both Le Pen and Macron could face trouble too, if their problems grow.

For this party, this election could be their last hope to win, France is not in the same state as few years back, things begin to change, the workforce started to shift, and the "old" voters of that time, will be less next time. The young are taking thier places.

ps: Majority of voters in the right wings are retired/old, the young are more in the left wing or/and the far right.

Interesting, if true. Something similar is going on here in America. However, motivation matters and it will take longer than some people might think for those younger voters to become a large enough part of the electorate, and those older voters to become a small enough one to really see a change.

 

[HannibalBarca]

 

[CBU-105]

 

[LA se Karachi]

French presidential candidate Francois Fillon faces preliminary charges over 'fake jobs' for wife and children

Mr Fillon has been accused of paying his wife, Penelope, for work she allegedly did not do


French presidential candidate François Fillon has been handed preliminary charges in an investigation into a “fake jobs” scandal involving his wife and children.

The charges further damage the former Prime Minister’s dwindling chances of winning the two-round presidential election, taking place between 23 April and 7 May.

Mr Fillon was considered the favourite for the contest until the “Penelope gate” scandal over the payment of hundreds of thousands of euros to his wife broke in January.

The Les Républicains politician insists she was legitimately employed as his parliamentary assistant and carried out the work for which she was paid, but has been placed under formal investigation on suspicion of embezzling public funds, complicity in misappropriating funds, receiving the funds and not declaring assets fully.

The charges came as a surprise, coming a day earlier than Mr Fillon was due to answer a summons to explain his conduct before magistrates.

Under French law, being put under formal investigation means there is “serious or consistent evidence” that points to probable involvement of a suspect in a crime.

It is a step towards a trial, but a number of such investigations have been dropped without going to court in the past.

Mr Fillon originally said he would withdraw from the presidential race if formally charges were brought against him but has since gone back on his promise, refusing to step down while claiming the charges are politically motivated.

The 63-year-old decried a “political assassination” in a press conference last month, adding: “I will continue to the end because it is democracy that is under attack.”

During his campaign to be selected as the Les Républicains candidate, he had said: “Those who don't respect the laws of the republic should not be allowed to run.

“There's no point in talking about authority when one's not beyond reproach.”

Mr Fillon denies wrongdoing and says he will cooperate fully with investigators as his campaign continues, while relatives insist they did the work for which they were generously paid.

While it is legal in France for politicians to hire family members for legitimate jobs, the case against Mr Fillon hinges on whether parliamentary positions he gave to his wife Penelope, from Abergavenny in Wales, and two of their five children were real.

Mr Fillon’s refusal to step down has caused a deep rift within his centre-right party, causing several members to boycott his candidacy and high profile resignations from the campaign.

The scandal has obliterated his standing in polls, which currently predict a close-fought first round between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centre-left independent candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Many surveys have predicted Mr Fillon will be knocked out in the first round of voting, with Mr Macron winning in the second and decisive ballot in May.

Ms Le Pen and some members of her National Front party are also embroiled in ongoing investigations, with the Front National leader refusing to appear before judges in a case concerning the employment of aides in the European Parliament.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-wife-penelope-gate-children-eu-a7629491.html

 

[Nilgiri]

French presidential candidate Francois Fillon faces preliminary charges over 'fake jobs' for wife and children

Mr Fillon has been accused of paying his wife, Penelope, for work she allegedly did not do


French presidential candidate François Fillon has been handed preliminary charges in an investigation into a “fake jobs” scandal involving his wife and children.

The charges further damage the former Prime Minister’s dwindling chances of winning the two-round presidential election, taking place between 23 April and 7 May.

Mr Fillon was considered the favourite for the contest until the “Penelope gate” scandal over the payment of hundreds of thousands of euros to his wife broke in January.

The Les Républicains politician insists she was legitimately employed as his parliamentary assistant and carried out the work for which she was paid, but has been placed under formal investigation on suspicion of embezzling public funds, complicity in misappropriating funds, receiving the funds and not declaring assets fully.

The charges came as a surprise, coming a day earlier than Mr Fillon was due to answer a summons to explain his conduct before magistrates.

Under French law, being put under formal investigation means there is “serious or consistent evidence” that points to probable involvement of a suspect in a crime.

It is a step towards a trial, but a number of such investigations have been dropped without going to court in the past.

Mr Fillon originally said he would withdraw from the presidential race if formally charges were brought against him but has since gone back on his promise, refusing to step down while claiming the charges are politically motivated.

The 63-year-old decried a “political assassination” in a press conference last month, adding: “I will continue to the end because it is democracy that is under attack.”

During his campaign to be selected as the Les Républicains candidate, he had said: “Those who don't respect the laws of the republic should not be allowed to run.

“There's no point in talking about authority when one's not beyond reproach.”

Mr Fillon denies wrongdoing and says he will cooperate fully with investigators as his campaign continues, while relatives insist they did the work for which they were generously paid.

While it is legal in France for politicians to hire family members for legitimate jobs, the case against Mr Fillon hinges on whether parliamentary positions he gave to his wife Penelope, from Abergavenny in Wales, and two of their five children were real.

Mr Fillon’s refusal to step down has caused a deep rift within his centre-right party, causing several members to boycott his candidacy and high profile resignations from the campaign.

The scandal has obliterated his standing in polls, which currently predict a close-fought first round between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centre-left independent candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Many surveys have predicted Mr Fillon will be knocked out in the first round of voting, with Mr Macron winning in the second and decisive ballot in May.

Ms Le Pen and some members of her National Front party are also embroiled in ongoing investigations, with the Front National leader refusing to appear before judges in a case concerning the employment of aides in the European Parliament.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-wife-penelope-gate-children-eu-a7629491.html

I dont see Fillon winning now (compared to whatever slim chance he had before when this stuff started). At least the French system will have no vote splitting phenomenon....final round is 1v1 ...I'm sure bush senior would have wanted that in 1992 hehe.