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LightSpectra

United States2554 Posts

February 28 2017 13:54 GMT

#13701

Four-five pages ago there was a great discussion about the merits of a parliamentary vs. presidential system, and I still hold the former to be superior for democracy.

Laurens

Belgium4557 Posts

March 01 2017 08:38 GMT

#13702

The support for the Euro is at a record high

+ Show Spoiler +

warding

Portugal2395 Posts

March 01 2017 09:08 GMT

#13703

In Portugal there was some rhetoric on blaming the Euro for the sovereign debt crisis but I'm glad that didn't hold up. Those numbers are really surprising, in particular for Greece. The variations are probably within the margin of error but I wonder whether brexit might have brought the continentals closer together.

RvB

Netherlands6273 Posts

March 01 2017 09:36 GMT

#13704

That is pretty surprising. I guess it shows that earlier currency volatility was not very popular and that people prefer the stability of the euro.

TheDwf

France19747 Posts

March 01 2017 10:05 GMT

#13705

Fillon cancelled his visit to the Salon de l'Agriculture (quite an important rendez-vous for candidates) and announced that he will make a statement one hour from now on.

Apparently he and his wife are going to be indicted soon.

Artisreal

Germany9235 Posts

March 01 2017 10:12 GMT

#13706

Young people don't even remember their "own" currency. My sister is 21 and has no recollection of the Deutsche Mark. She can't understand people saying, "uuuh, that would be like xx DM".

To use a phrase of the 2014 referendum, we're "better together". Funny to use that in such context.

Laurens

Belgium4557 Posts

March 01 2017 10:24 GMT

#13707

I'm turning 26 this year, my main memories of the Belgian Frank are lots of stupid exercices in 5th grade with dividing/multiplying by 40.3399 ... Ugh.

warding

Portugal2395 Posts

March 01 2017 10:58 GMT

#13708

The Euro meant the end of high inflation in Portugal. We went from >15% to <2% as soon as the Escudo was fixed to the Euro value in the 90s. Old people remember that era of inflation and probably don't want to get back to it and young people can't imagine a Euroless world.

It's surprising since five year ago it was very fashionable to say that the Euro would soon die.

TheDwf

France19747 Posts

March 01 2017 11:23 GMT

#13709

Fillon is 25 minutes late. It must be quite the s*itstorm among the leaders of the right to decide if he carries on or not lol

kwizach

3658 Posts

March 01 2017 11:30 GMT

#13710

Fellow left-wingers waiting for Fillon's announcement, what scenario do you favor for the French election? Him pulling out and (probably) getting replaced as the LR candidate by someone else, or him staying in the race? I'm not sure myself which option I prefer (meaning which one would favor the other candidates the most). I see Juppé as a more dangerous candidate than a weakened Fillon, but at the same time he would have less time to prepare and would carry some of the stench. François Baroin is another possible replacement whose name is being floated, but he's less of an "imposing" figure and would possibly struggle to occupy enough space in the race..

TheDwf

France19747 Posts

March 01 2017 11:32 GMT

#13711

Lol, Fillon is already playing the victim, I bet that he's going to stay. Disgusting

kwizach

3658 Posts

March 01 2017 11:36 GMT

#13712

Yeah, he just confirmed he was staying in.

TheDwf

France19747 Posts

March 01 2017 11:37 GMT

#13713

Conspirationnist, paranoid, delusional defence. The right signed its official suicide.
Basically if he didn't drop out, this means that there was no consensus on who could replace him...

kwizach

3658 Posts

March 01 2017 11:43 GMT

#13714

Exactly. It was a disgusting speech. The hypocrisy was through the roof -- he can't claim to be respectful of "our institutions" while presenting the entire case as a politically-motivated "assassination" by the judiciary and the press against him, his project, the "right and center", the electorate and the election process itself. Disgusting. And straight out of the Le Pen playbook.

Artisreal

Germany9235 Posts

March 01 2017 11:52 GMT

#13715

Let's see if France is as susceptible to trumpism as the US

François Fillon : "Ne laissez personne vous priver de votre choix"

What a guy. Let nobody deprive you of your choice (to elect an asshat).
Let nobody patronize you not to vote for a corrupt hypocrit.

SoSexy

Italy3725 Posts

March 01 2017 12:05 GMT

#13716

Let's hope this helps Lepen.

TheDwf

France19747 Posts

March 01 2017 13:32 GMT

#13717

Just so non-French people can understand the mind-boggling level of hypocrisy and double talk in Fillon, some of his past quotes:

“A swift and strong justice is an absolute necessity that you demand. Zero impunity must be the rule!” - March 2016
“Against delinquents, the punishment must be certain, swift, dissuasive.” - March 2016
“Who can imagine for a single moment the General De Gaulle being charged?” - August 2016 + Show Spoiler +

that one is very famous, since it was an attack on Nicolas Sarkozy... who was candidate despite being charged twice

“As for me, if I was indicted, I would never be candidate in the presidency. It's a matter of ethics.” - August 2016
“If I was indicted I would never run for the presidency. It's obvious.” - September 2016
“If I am president, none of my ministers can be charged [implied: and remain in office].” - November 2016
“I want a model political class, without ministers who are indicted.” - November 2016
“The only thing which would prevent me from being candidate is if my honor was [in question], if I was indicted.” - 26 January 2017 [2 days after the case began]

farvacola

United States18857 Posts

March 01 2017 13:38 GMT

#13718

Reading those quotes makes me think of Voltaire lol