[beth]

The elections are over here in France.
What did you think of the information you get in your countrys about it (if you paid any interrest in those election)?
How would you describe the campaign from your foreigner's point of view: active, boring, hard, with fair play? about personalities or election platform?

I'm going to get drunk (half of the work is done), so do not wait for any explaination.

I do NOT ask for any opinion about Nicolas Sarkozy.

[markphata]

Quite detailed coverage in Japan, was slightly surprised. Maybe slightly more focused on policies over personailities in comparison to the UK media I check (although to be honest, of late I haven't been checking much news at all so my sample size is rather small).

[VanDerSmok]

I do NOT ask for any opinion about Nicolas Sarkozy.

You do know about the meaning of his name in Hungarian

Back to the subject.

[Argurnenoni]

It was interesting that the UK media covered it more than the Scottish elections taking place around the same time.

I do think that Sarkozy had to win. Despite not wanting him to, I don't think Royal would make a good president, nor had she said enough on policy to get any votes.

[AlbrtJhnsqw]

I do NOT ask for any opinion about Nicolas Sarkozy.

who's sarkozy? don't know much about french politics, but i have brie and some french wine in my ice box at home..

pete

[kylsq0Ln]

(...) i have brie and some french wine in my ice box at home..

pete

I hope it's a joke...

[allemnendup]

I hope it's a joke...

right, what kind of barbarian would put wine in the icebox?

[Terinalo]

right, what kind of barbarian would put wine in the icebox?

Same with cheese... These kind of lèse-majestée crimes are punished by that guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdupont

[Pashtet]

In Germany the media coverage was extensive, they showed the TV debate again and again and gave the first guesses of the results at around 6pm, very accurately.
On the whole I think it was very objective, no candidate was favoured in my opinion.
Sarkozy was said to be the conservative who wants to liberate a lot and Royal, the socialist, who wants to - well, what does she want? She seemed to be the unsure one who mostly managed to get aggressive...

Just my fairly uninformed opinion.

(I had to laugh about her comment on Merkel in the debate, though... )

[Madjostok]

right, what kind of barbarian would put wine in the icebox?

i normally freeze it in ice cube tray and eat it like pop. that kills the taste.

pete

[steansathtpos]

We did get coverage here as well, Royale reminded me of Mitterand, but somehow less than Mitterand. Less clear in intentions, less powerful in presence...somewhat snarky as well.

Sarkozy on the other hand seems somewhat more sure of what he's about. I believe France is in for another round of burning cars before the end of the year, though.

[alfredtaniypnx]

i normally freeze it in ice cube tray and eat it like pop. that kills the taste.

pete

I'm going to have the DGSE hunt you down.

[Kamendoriks]

Sarkozy on the other hand seems somewhat more sure of what he's about. I believe France is in for another round of burning cars before the end of the year, though.

Many would say he was responsible for the first round, so yes, I'd agree with that...

[TCjwwhcY]

What is this place called "France" that you speak of?
Is that new New Jersey?

[Peertantyb]

I seem to recall Royale saying that if she was elected she would hire more civil servants... nuff said.

Coverage was pretty good here.

[Saqwnht]

There was alot of coverage over here from what I saw. Most of it seemed to favor Royal, giving her lots of good press time, sorta the modern heroine crusader and painting Sarkozy as a hard nosed for buisiness against immigrants bad guy. We have been calling him the French Texan at work comparing his platform with our president's. Once Sarkozy was elected the news coverage of the election just sorta vanished. I have a feeling if Royal had won I would be seeing her dominating the newspaper headlines with the Queen Elizabeth II tour on the backpage.

[Nemerov]

painting Sarkozy as a hard nosed for buisiness against immigrants bad guy.

Hm, his father was an immigrant. Which doesn't make this impossible, of course, as history teaches. Nevertheless, he doesn't seem like that to me and wasn't shown in such a way in the German press.

[Tusanoc]

That's definately how he's protrayed in the French press, also many people's impression of him. Including my own.

The fact that he's a second gen immigrant just adds hypocrite to the list....

[huylibizonoff]

Thanks to everybody for the answers. I didn't know that the debate was showed in Germany. At least in Europe, people heard of the elections.

[nizcreare]

. . At least in Europe, people heard of the elections.

I assure you that we heard of the elections here in the U.S. Generally they were placed above the fold in major papers and page three in tabloids. the coverage was balanced, i.e. not favoring either candidate (right wing versus left wing)
All in all, a pleasant interlude in between car burnings.