These are the changes that LePen would make if elected president of France [NYT]

NYT, from Le Pen's web site ^ | April 23, 2002 | NYT, from Le Pen's web site

[summer]

These are the changes that Jean-Marie Le Pen would seek to make if elected president of France, according to his campaign web site, www.lepen.tv :

o Outlaw abortion and end official recognition of same-sex unions.

o Develop programs to increase the birth rate and pay benefits to women who stay at home with their children.

o End legal immigration.

o Deport illegal immigrants and eliminate dual nationality.

o Give French citizens priority for all jobs and public housing; create a separate medical benefits system for foreigners working in France, so that French tax money would not be used for foreigners' care.

o Allow only French citizens to teach in French schools.

o Reinstitute morality classes; require student participation in patriotic events and holidays.

o Outlaw the wearing of yarmulkes and Muslim headscarves in schools.

o Create 200,000 new prison beds.

o Expand and give new rights to the police force.

[summer]

Actually, that story was in the NYT today as well. Another surprise.

[Daus]

He forgot one... :)


o Institute a 30 minute waiting period before ANY surrender to the Germans (or whoever)


It's a start!

[Blood of Tyrants]

English major? It would take a PHD at least.

[rovenstinez]

Napoleon would be right proud. This ought to turn a few talking heads.

[summer]

Re your post #24 -- I guessing you translated that from his web site. Correct me if I'm wrong...

[Cleburne]

This is not best described as "right wing" in my opinion, but as "nationalist". It is strongly nationalist, and must absolutely scare the mess out of one Europe types, but no doubt encourages other nationalist minded folk of Europe who desire more autonomy for their nations and a more specific cultural indenty undiluted by the threat, real or percieved, offered by immigration. In my opinion, these nations face more of a threat from their own self inflicted socialist stupidity, though illegial immigration is certainly not helping their cultural identity (though one may wonder if in certain cases it helps their economic identity, considering the destructive practises engraved in many European's slef identity!), nor do immigrants, specifically Muslim, aid at all to law and order. Le Pen is not, by far, the best man for France, or anyone, but then, one is terribly unlikely to find someone who is anywhere near "perfect" in Europe, much less France. The danger, or benefit, he and folks in his nationalistic vein of thought pose to the US, I do not profess to know. I doubt that he would be interested in any sort of hostile action, though it may mean my father, and Air Guardsman, would not get to enjoy Southern France anymore for annual training!

[anniegetyourgun]

It appears you understand that the French are trying to decide if they want to choose worse or worser.

[summer]

My mistake - it was a somewhat similiar, but different news item I saw in the NYT:

German State in Poor Shape Turns to Right in Local Vote

[kidd]

If I equate Le Pen/Muslims with Duke/Blacks, then I can see why you would think that he is like David Duke. The difference is that American blacks are part of American culture while Algerian Muslims have chosen to live separate from French culture. David Duke is anti-American because blacks are definitly American. Algerians routinely boo the playing of the French national anthem. Algerian Muslims are violent towards French Jews. Algerian Muslims don't want to be French.

Do you have other information about Le Pen?

[summer]

Whatever they choose, it is interesting that someone with this platform is where he is right now.

[slouper]

"Some good ideas, some not so good, some down right dictatorial."

Care to break it down for us? I'm especially interested to know whch ones you feel are "down right dictatorial".

[Irene Adler]

Le Pen isn't going to win. All of the voters who voted for Jospin and all of the other leftist candidates will vote for Chirac in the second round. Le Pen doesn't have a chance.

[summer]

You may be right - but I know from own experiences that the French want to remain French. And his platform says that's A-OK.

[SamAdams76]

Other than the part about giving the police more powers, I don't have too much of a problem with that platform. Does anybody think that Le Pen has a chance to be elected? Not me. If all the socialist/leftists hold their noses and vote for Chirac, which I think they will do, Le Pen hasn't a chance in the world.

[Dog Gone]

The "President" of France can not do any of these things without a willing Parliament. Where's he going to get one of those?

Precisely. The President of France can do precious little. The Prime Minister has far more power, and there's little doubt that it will be another Socialist.

The President may have the ability to order nuclear weapons to be fired, though. I'm not sure.

[agrandis]

Looks like a good agneda for any nation to me, except for the expanded police force and compulsory patriotism for students. Eurpopeans can't help loving intrusive governments, even when they are right about other fundamentals.

[Frohickey]

Some of it sounds good...
o Deport illegal immigrants and eliminate dual nationality.
o Give French citizens priority for all jobs and public housing; create a separate medical benefits system for foreigners working in France, so that French tax money would not be used for foreigners' care.

But some of it are scary...
o Develop programs to increase the birth rate and pay benefits to women who stay at home with their children.
o Reinstitute morality classes; require student participation in patriotic events and holidays.
o Expand and give new rights to the police force.

[summer]

The President may have the ability to order nuclear weapons to be fired, though. I'm not sure.

Good point there, Dog!

[geaux]

VOTE FOR SLEAZE, NOT FASCISM!

Sounds like the election we had here in Louisiana several years back, when David Duke was running against Edwin:
"VOTE FOR THE CROOK! IT'S IMPORTANT!"