European elections in France
Well, one day left to decide who to vote for in the European elections – and frankly I haven’t the first idea. So if you’re here looking for guidance you’re likely to be disappointed. because that’s what I’m looking for as well.
When I was young and angry I always knew exactly who to vote for. I was a Labour supporter when I was a student, in between attending CND marches and carrying banners stating ‘Don’t vote – it encourages them’.
Then I started earning money, Michael Foot took charge of the Labour party, and I became a staunch Conservative, if never quite a Thatcherite.
Ah, that life could still be so simple.
I can say that I’ve been too busy with other things to do my homework, but I know that’s no excuse. I’ve seen some of the party political broadcasts on television, but they have all blurred in my head into one great confusing melange of voices. Slapped wrists, I should have taken notes.
Rather spookily the leader of the French socialist party, Martine Aubry, comes across as a normal, hard working and genuine person (something I would never say about her predecessor and colleague Ségolène Royal, who I find very scary). But I can’t go with my own judgement here, because voting for the socialists in France would be very reckless from someone trying to run a small business and escape from crippling state charges.
The main contender in French politics is the UMP under M Sarkozy. He seems to have stopped rushing around quite so much recently, which might be a good thing or it might not. No changes so far that have affected my tax bill. Word is that almost the whole of France is going to vote against him, just as a protest vote about…well, no-one knows what really, but it’s nice to protest anyway.
So I’m none the wiser about who I should vote for, or whether I even will vote. Being very cynical (along with more than 50% of the population, they tell me) I have the sneaking suspicion that whoever any of us vote for won’t actually make all that much difference.
But I know that is the biggest scandal of all, the millions of us who just aren’t interested enough to bother…shame on me! You are welcome to leave rude comments below about my poor attitude.
Incidentally, while on European matters and more than a little bit related to the above, I was pleased to read that MEP’s had voted that their personal expense claims should remain secret. It’s nice that they can make such difficult decisions purely in the interests of Europe, their countries and their constituents, rather than based on self-interest.
Well we did vote, but like you said I feel it probably didn’t make much difference. We voted out of a vague feeling that “if you don’t vote you can’t complain”. Quite a lot of people were down at the voting booths so the apathy wasn’t that great, at least among the people I know or recognise.
I’m ashamed to say I didn’t end up voting, and now I’ll be racked with guilt for the next few years because of my laziness. I was amused to see the ecology party doing well and then rushing around remembering they didn’t quite have enough policies yet…all the same, good for them, I’m pleased to see the environment getting a bit more attention. Overall quite good results (IMHO) even without my contribution, so I feel less guilty than I would have done if the FN had won loads of seats.