Keeping an ear on Brittany

With the legislative elections in France just days away (1st Round 10th June – 2nd Round 17th June) – you might like to listen to some French radio. For these elections, I will be keeping a special eye on Douarnenez in Brittany (for background – see my post on The Furzton Blog).


The widget below will enable you to listen to France Bleu Breizh Izel (from Quimper). France Bleu is a network of local stations around France (someone likened it to the BBC local radio network).

 

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France Bleu Breizh Izel

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Douarnenez is the 7th circonscription in Finistere (Like the districts in the US House of Representatives – the constitutency is given a number within the State – but the ‘departement’ is the unit used for French national elections) The candidates for the 7th circonscription are - Serge Defrance, Sophie Niderkorn (LO) Didier Guillon, Valérie Dreau (UMP) Janick Moriceau, Jean Cathala (EELV) Evelyne Delgrange, Yvette Fournol (FN) Michel Canevet, Isabelle Clement (AC) Annick Le Loch, Paul Gueguen (PS) {CURRENT MEMBER} Jean Jouanno, Marie-Claude Le Guen (AEI) Françoise Pencalet-Kerivel, Jean-Yves Leven (FDG)

French Legislative Elections

Francois Hollande won the Presidential Election - but will he enjoy a co-operative Assemblee nationale? Some people have spoken of the possibility of a "Vague rose" (in French that means 'pink wave' - referring to the the success of the Left - a delayed 'coattails effect')

The Opinion Polls are not hopeful - Le Monde reported yesterday:-

"The balance of power favors the Left, but we are not moving towards a tidal wave of (soft) red to the Assemblee nationale. This is the main lesson from the first survey of voting intentions on the parliamentary elections by Ipsos-Logica Business Consulting for Le Monde, France Television and Radio France.


In this study, (carried out on 25 and May 26 from a representative sample of the French population of 962 people), the UMP {the party that backed Sarkozy} and its allies (New Centre, Valoisien Radical Party, various right of centre parties) are credited with 35% of the vote in the first round, before the Parti Socialiste {Hollande's Party} and its allies (Radical Left Party, Republican and Citizens Movement, various left), who obtain 31%. The Front National {Le Pen} (15%), is behind them, ahead of the Left Front (8%), Europe Ecology-Greens (6%) and the extreme left (1.5%)."

While these figures give more support to the parties of the right - the expectation is that in the second round - when only the two leading candidates are on the ballot - because the Right is divided (The Front national will not pick up some of the votes given by centre-right voters) - Hollande should get a majority - but it may be a small one.

Recess Announcements

Back to the UK - the Government has let it be known that its 'Pasty Tax' and the 'Caravan tax' will be dropped. While the House of Lords is still sitting - it rises tonight, the House of Commons is in recess.

I wonder whether Ministers will get a reprimand when they return? The Speaker (in line with previous Speakers - but a lot more vigorously) has stressed that the House of Commons should be the place where Ministers announce policy (and policy changes). This is to allow MPs to question - hold to account - the Government. This is important!

While the legislative process in the US Congress can be likened to a game of American Football (I’ll be developing this analogy in future posts) – Parliament is more like a game of soccer– faster flowing, with less emphasis (less, not none!) on strategy and tactics to move the bill forward or halt its progress. But it is like putting an enthusiastic under-11 team against Manchester United. The Government control ‘the ball’ most of the time – and usually the most the opposition or backbenchers can do is kick the ball for a few moments – before the relentless onward march of the Government.

Any thoughts on these analogies?

DCA

When I flew into Washington DC last month, instead of using Dulles (the international airport, which I did fly out from on my return), I flew into National Airport. It has been renamed after President Reagan, but I know – and respect the views of – many of my friends who, on principle, refuse to call it after a President who was disliked as much as he was loved.


The airport is really convenient for the city. It is on the blue and yellow metro lines – and is only a short distance from the Capital (3 miles away). On my 25 mile walk from Mount Vernon to the Senate last year, we walked on the Mount Vernon Trail through the grounds of the airport. Many members of Congress use the airport to travel between Washington and their home districts.

Construction began in 1940, after President Roosevelt made a recess appropriation of $15 million to build a new Airport by reallocating funds from other purposes. Some of the original buildings can still be seen. (The terminal itself is modern).

Information about the airport can be found here.

NOT a bank holiday weekend

Normally today would be be the middle of a long weekend. The last Monday in May is traditionally the Late Spring Bank Holiday (it used to be the Whit Monday holiday), but not this year. Next weekend is a super-long weekend – with this holiday shunted back a week (Monday 4th June) and an additional holiday for the Diamond Jubilee (Tuesday 5th June).


However, it is still a day off work (well I will be doing some more marking) – and this afternoon the Milton Keynes City Pathfinders will be playing in Emerson Valley. They are the local American Football team, and whenever I can I go over to see them play. If you are able to get to the Emerson Valley Sports fields (off Bowland Drive, MK4 2DN) – for 2-30, it would be great to see you. It should be an entertaining afternoon. If you want a short introduction to the game of American football, press this link.