[soitlyobserty]

The big question is will Germany have the balls to cut them off if they don't do as they're told?

[Rinkeliacasse]

I've heard that the French President actually has little power unless his party controls the Parliament other wise the PM effectively runs things how he likes. I guess that will mean the Parliamentary elections in June will be key as it will determine if the President or the PM runs the show.

[55Beaphable]

Parliament doesn't name the PM? A French guy on another forum was saying the party (or coalition of parties) who run Parliament name the PM so the President can't really enact much without a majority in Parliament or at least an agreement with the majority.

[w4WBthjv]

I noticed that France got an 80% voter turn out rate while in the US a 60% turn out is considered gigantic. How can we get our voter turn out numbers higher? Well, there really is no good reason to have an election day on a Tuesday as that is a sure fire way to lower voter turn out as so many people are at work. France had their national elections on a Sunday when most people aren't at work so that has to contribute to a higher turn out. I'd really like to see the US move it's election day to a weekend, preferably a Sunday.

[botagozzz]

There is only 1 way to wair it right and that is left, right ?

[saopinax]

Parliament doesn't name the PM? A French guy on another forum was saying the party (or coalition of parties) who run Parliament name the PM so the President can't really enact much without a majority in Parliament or at least an agreement with the majority.

The President names the PM, but the PM can barely govern without Parliament. That's why legislative elections are held soon after the presidential.

You are probably getting your cues from the Jospin-Chirac years: gaullist president and socialist PM (parliament was socialist). I would argue that in those years Jospin was more in charge than Chirac.

[greeferweq]

We'll see if he pushes anti-business policies that will come back to bite him in the ass. However, at least it will be the end of miserable austerity in France.

[googlopharm]

If only. They'll move to Switzerland, if there are any left.