A blogger tilts the French vote on Europe

Stephen,

Thanks for inserting an international perspective on blogging. Though I'm an American, after living in Paris for several years, I get a little tired back in in Washington D.C. of the "me nation" view we tend to have of blogging. Especially in politics, the French populace takes their voting rights more seriously than we Americans do. Consider this, in our 2000 presidential election, the turnout amongst registered voters was about 51%. In the French 2002 presidential election (second round), they had a turnout of over 60%. And given the general distrust of their federal officials by the man on the street (how many types of governments have they had in the last 60 years?), blogging has a tremendous potential for influence there.

Hi Stephen, unfortunately I don't post everything I post in French in english too, I will try to improve ;-)

I am also asking how people see the French people voting no, in English this time

here's more on this, in English:
http://blog.netpolitique.net/index.php/2005/05/31/57-french-referendum-online-campaign

Steven - I'm surprised - What evidenc do you have that Blogging had any effect on the French elections??

Could it be that a lot of people found common kin for a decision already reached??

Good point, Doug. I don't have any evidence of the French blogger's direct influence on the campaign. It's all indirect, based on the traffic he generated and the debate he contributed to (and in which he became a central figure).

His analysis makes for an interesting read. He starts by stressing that he's long been pro-European, and that he supported the new Constitution from the beginning, even without reading it. But once he read it, he saw it as flawed. So instead of following the traditional lines of opposition, ie. that cheap Polish and Romanian workers would take French jobs, he stresses that the Constitution itself is deeply undemocratic. I may be wrong here (and Loic and other French observers, please jump in and set me straight), but it appears to me that he helped establish an intellectual and pro-European framework for a 'non' vote. This is important in France, a country that prides itself on being intellectual and staunchly European. By providing this framework, he helped to shift the debate from the simple "Economic winners vote yes, losers vote no." That said, the vote still broke down fairly clearly into the winners and losers camps. So, as I say, Doug is right that I have no proof of Chouard's influence in the vote.

The link netpo provides above provides more analysis about the importance of blogs, and Chouard, in the French campaign. But again, without claiming that it was decisive.

Very interesting to see British comments.
You have to know that Etienne Chouard (tape this name on google to go and see what's on) received more than 750 000 visits on his site. Very nice guy by the way.
Unfortunately, he has some problem with the English translation. (I can't help him, as you can read. Too difficult for me). His translations into many languages prooves how he feels European. And he's right. This text we had to sign has been written for 450 millions people, not for 60 millions Frenchs.
In general, we find that English economy is too liberal. On one hand, we envy your 3% rate for unemployed people but on the other hand, we're afraid by your poor people 20% rate, which means that your economy creates poor workers. Is it better to work AND to remain poor or to be an unemployed poor people, that's the question. Compared to yours, our minimum salary (the smallest income you get for an hour) is almost the double.
I'd like to have your point of view on it. I'll read your answer when I'm back, 3 days time.
Thanks,
Remi

The French know the central banking system grown to one whole European "supersize it"
entity will eat every Nation and all Europeans while allowing, even inviting more immigration to help slide the economy
down the tube.
Time to review other systems that get the Nation back to work for the French and not the immigrants. Its called National Socialism and is preferred by large numbers of the French.

It is now interesting to see a people who have the courage to stand against the rape of their Nation and National interests.

Vive la French !

..................

So the Europeans need a dose of Nazism, huh? Karl: Without immigrants, Western Europe will soon be a geriatric economy. I know they're frustrated, but luckily, most of them are well aware that politics of isolation and xenophobia are a ticket to nowhere, now more than ever.