I Still Support Segolene Royal
I Still Support Segolene Royal
My dear friend Chris is getting raked over the coals in the comments section of Alex’s letter because he says he prefers Segolene Royal to Nicolas Sarkozy despite Mme. Royal’s unfortunate comments.
At the end of the day, this issue really matters little. France would always recognize the Quebec state if there was a clear will of the people to want that. That has been the French position since Parizeau got them involved in the 90s. Nothing Mme. Royal has said will affect Canada in any way shape or form. She simply re-iterated the French position.
She will be bound to the fact that in EU secession referendums 55% is a clear majority. She will be bound to the fact that in EU secession referendums, questions must be clear and approved by a court. Under these conditions Quebec will never achieve the requirements, so all Mme. Royal said was “if they vote that way, then France will support them.”
Last time I checked, was that not everybody’s position?
If we stopped supporting someone after they said something in the wrong way, we would never support anyone for anything.
I am a gauchist what do you want from me? I would take Royal over a right-wing-Paul-Martin-take-over-the-party-redux Sarkozy any day of the week.
Allez Sego!
par / by Anthony à / at 2:39 p.m.
5 Commentaires:
I suppose she and Boisclair share a case of serious foot-in-mouth disease, but I just don't understand how social progressives can reconcile her Joe Lieberman-esque attitude towards popular culture and art, law and order. Royal wants to send kids to boot camp like she's the new host of Maury Povich or something. She's proven herself to be completely incapable on all international fronts, especially in the way that she's refused to even negotiate with Angela Merkel on Germany's plans to push through a revised constitution during its presidency of the EU.
And if you're going to accuse Sarkozy of dividing the party like Martin did remember that it was he who stepped in and led inter-party negotiations when the UMP was split over the DADVSI bill.
It is funny, though, that Sarkozy is always leading in Le Figaro's polls.
A lot of people in Canada who've never been outside their country simply can't grasp the true meaning of Ségolène's words.
She is not exactly a friend of overbearing and controlling Brussels (=EU). To her, Ottawa evokes the same images as Brussels.
Therefore, it was only logical for her to say that everyone had the right to be free and sovereign.
Anyone who understands both Europe and Canada (and I do, as I lived and worked in both places for a very long time) will truly appreciate the meaning of Ségolène's statement. But most Canadians won't, including Harper or Charest.
Werner, every paper in France led with the Québec story the day after it happened. As someone who has also spent time on both sides of the Atlantic, I'm put off by the claim that you have some nuaced understanding of the issue that others don't. Frankly, you're talking down to people.
Even if what you say is true, then it means ordinary Quebeckers who have never been to France do not properly understand Royal's words and that they may misinterpret them as an endorsement of sovereignty.
You forgot to mention that Stéphane Dion also felt the need to condemn her remarks. I don't need to say that he probably has a better handle on the subtleties of French and Canadian politics than you or I ever will. Michele Alliot-Marie has also criticized Royal for the gaffe, showing that even the Gaullist has issues with her remark.
I greatly admire Michael Ignatieff because he is a courageous man when it comes to admitting his mistakes. Ségolène Royal could learn a thing or two from him.
I'm not about to shift my support to the UMP just because Royal pulled a mini-de Gaulle. It's unfortunate that she wasn't more thoughtful towards Canada, but the broader considerations of the French Presidential race are for me matters of left and right.
ignatieff has admitted to making a mistake??? news to me. i'm still waiting for a mea culpa on iraq and lesser evils, not to mention military intervention in israel...that was just strange.
she's a dud, but the alternative is equally unpalatable.
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