FRENCH ELECTION UPDATE :: Opposition to Electronic Voting System Grows in France

The New York Times ^ | April 4, 2007 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[Vicomte13]

pas ni pwobleme

[bruinbirdman]

“We have doubts about the reliability of these machines,”

Eh, I think the Socialists are more worried that they can't tamper with the machines, unlike paper.

yitbos

[bruinbirdman]

"With the latest polls showing Sarko beating Royal by almost 10 points in the runoff, panic is setting in.

Name calling, hyperbolic promises, and of course, the weapon of last resort, US bashing! "

It used to be quite a Dick Tuck to get Osama bin Obama to support your opponent, or Castro. Today, maybe an endorsement by the NYTimes is the kiss of death.

yitbos

[Ciexyz]

French election bump.

[SunkenCiv]

[’Civ does a strange little victory ‘dance’]

[bruinbirdman]

Race to be president 'speeds up'

The cars of all the French presidential frontrunners have been caught speeding, a magazine claims. The news comes as they race to secure pole position in this month's first round of elections.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the Right-wing candidate, living up to his "Speedy Sarko" nickname, was the worst offender, according to Auto Hebdo.

Nicolas Sarkozy was the worst offender, according to Auto Hebdo

The Renault of the UMP candidate, who introduced hundreds of extra radar speed traps as interior minister, was tracked doing 81mph in an area with a limit of 44mph.

In second place came Jean-Marie Le Pen, the far-Right Front National leader, whose Peugeot was seen hurtling along at 115mph on a motorway with a 80mph limit.

The Peugeot of Francois Bayrou, the UDF candidate, was snapped doing 75mph in a 44mph tunnel while the Renault of Ségolène Royal, the Socialist, was caught at 98mph, some 30mph over the limit. Auto Hebdo said none of the politicians had been at the wheel and did not specify whether they were in the cars.

[SunkenCiv]

The really weird part is, they were all let go because none of the police officers involved could figure out what mph meant on the equipment. ;’)

[TheMole]

They all get driven around in Renaults or Peugeots? I guess the optics would be bad if they drove foreign-to-France cars, but sheesh ...