Voting in France underway

What seemed like an exciting year of change has turned into a major disappointment, with the leading candidates exciting few, leaving large blocks off undecided voters who could swing the vote. The good news is that Le Pen appears to be locked solidly in fourth place but the top three - Bayrou, Royal and Sarkozy - are battling it out to make it into the second round where the top two candidates will then battle each other in two weeks to see who will be the next president of France.

I appreciated Sarkozy's push for a quota system because the racism in France is painfully obvious to anyone who cares to open their eyes but his steady diet of playing the fear card and calling certain people "scum" is disturbing. After the last seven years of Bush, I've had it with fear and find it difficult to respect anyone who runs (or rules) with it.

Segolene Royal, the Socialist candidate, gives hope to empty suits around the world that they too can rise to the top of a political party. Her ideas to have everyone fly the flag and sing the national anthem are as bizarre as her brilliant plan for growth which calls for giving 10,000 euro to any young adult who wants it. Yes, France's debt is not quite high enough, so let's just throw cash around instead of focusing on specific ideas which can create jobs.

The third main candidate is Francois Bayrou, who sells himself as the candidate of the middle. Traditionally a center-right politician, Bayrou has received great attention because he's not Sego and he's not Sarko. He likes to make it clear that he's very religious and owns a farm. Despite claims of France not being interested in personal sex lives of politicians (which to a degree is true but not as much as they like to think) his campaign posters proudly display his wedding ring, hinting at his own long-term marriage as opposed to the other candidates who would fit in nicely with the current GOP presidential crowd.

Fortunately Le Pen, the leader of the extreme right, seems destined to fourth place. The top three have all made every effort possible to chip away at his base. To some degree Le Pen has been a success, since their outreach programs have moved everyone to the right.

With unemployment sitting just under 9% and the youth suffering from massive unemployment and short term job contract after short term job contract, something needs to change. France is a country that hates change more than most countries so whoever wins is still going to struggle implementing change.