The major democracy where more than one in eight want a Trot as President
Is, as regulars might have guessed, France.
Opinion Way, for Le Monde, has found that "If the French had voted in mid-September in the first round of a Presidential election, 13% would have voted for the revolutionary postman [Olivier Besancenot of the LCR]. Notwithstanding whoever was the Socialist party candidate".
Put in context, he received 4% in 2007, and PCF Tankie George Marchais scored 15% in 1981. The latter led to members of the PCF in government. Note also that Le Pen only needed 17% to make it into the second round in 2002. Note further that Paddick attracted less than 10% of first preference votes in the London Mayoral election, the nearest equivalent to a French election where one can vote heart first, head second.
As to why left voters (as opposed to the overall population...) like him, 86% think him f'riendly', 83% both 'down to earth' and 'brave' and 77% honest. And for a large majority (no figures in the item, and I cannot access the raw data) of these lefties, he 'expresses himself in simple language' (roll in your graves, French Intellos), is 'interesting' and 'persuasive'.
Lest I be accused of conjuring a bogeyman from a cuddly leftie, this is how the LCR introduces its programme:
"Barbarism threatens the future of the human race. Social strife, civil wars and genocides are increasing. It is a true crisis of civilisation that we are seeing. Capitalism is seeking a second wind on the backs of the oppressed and exploited. Anti-capitalist demonstrations, saying no to the tyranny of money and the free market are all expressed in the heartfelt cries of 'the world is not for sale!', 'Another world is possible'".
And so on - all clear-cut Fourth International Trotskyism. FWIW, the SWP in these parts does not adhere to the Fourth International, because of a difference of interpretation of the Soviet Union, not that its programme is hugely different from the LCR's.
Anyway, if he wins lots of votes in 2012, do not say you were not warned.
Opinion Way, for Le Monde, has found that "If the French had voted in mid-September in the first round of a Presidential election, 13% would have voted for the revolutionary postman [Olivier Besancenot of the LCR]. Notwithstanding whoever was the Socialist party candidate".
Put in context, he received 4% in 2007, and PCF Tankie George Marchais scored 15% in 1981. The latter led to members of the PCF in government. Note also that Le Pen only needed 17% to make it into the second round in 2002. Note further that Paddick attracted less than 10% of first preference votes in the London Mayoral election, the nearest equivalent to a French election where one can vote heart first, head second.
As to why left voters (as opposed to the overall population...) like him, 86% think him f'riendly', 83% both 'down to earth' and 'brave' and 77% honest. And for a large majority (no figures in the item, and I cannot access the raw data) of these lefties, he 'expresses himself in simple language' (roll in your graves, French Intellos), is 'interesting' and 'persuasive'.
Lest I be accused of conjuring a bogeyman from a cuddly leftie, this is how the LCR introduces its programme:
"Barbarism threatens the future of the human race. Social strife, civil wars and genocides are increasing. It is a true crisis of civilisation that we are seeing. Capitalism is seeking a second wind on the backs of the oppressed and exploited. Anti-capitalist demonstrations, saying no to the tyranny of money and the free market are all expressed in the heartfelt cries of 'the world is not for sale!', 'Another world is possible'".
And so on - all clear-cut Fourth International Trotskyism. FWIW, the SWP in these parts does not adhere to the Fourth International, because of a difference of interpretation of the Soviet Union, not that its programme is hugely different from the LCR's.
Anyway, if he wins lots of votes in 2012, do not say you were not warned.
Labels: Extreme Left, France
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 31, 2008 at 9:57 am.
You can skip to the end and leave a response.
» Post a Comment