Our taxi driver, originally from Cambodia, seemed to be of the opinion that the French presidential election was more about personalities and not policies

France


Published: 22/04/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)

Campaign fails to impress
By Vinita Bharadwaj, Special to Gulf News



Paris: It's well known by now that the French presidential elections
are critical for the country.

As candidates wound up their campaigns with a final push on Friday,
including volunteers handing out flyers at most metro station exits,
the real debates were taking place that evening.

At last mention in the media, 16 million voters had not made up their
mind on whom to vote for. With 12 candidates in the running, it is not
a lack of choice that is the problem, but as the receptionist at our
hotel Paul Henri says: "It is a lack of clarity and consistency."

Henri, will "most probably vote for Bayrou" as he is not "entirely
happy with the right or the left". And that is precisely what many
French voters seem to be saying. Although most polls give Nicolas
Sarkozy lead, the real battle seems to be for second place, with
centrist candidate Francois Bayrou featuring as an either-or option
for many.

Taxi driver

There is an overall sense of disappointment at the choice of
candidates available. Our taxi driver from the airport to the hotel,
originally from Cambodia, seemed to be of the opinion that the
election was more about personalities and not policies.

"I know more about how they operate than what they promise to do," he
said. Fears of losing their high-quality of life with less working
hours and holidays exist along with the concern of France losing its
competitiveness on the global stage. "It's a tricky balance to have
both and not one candidate has convinced me that they can find it,"
says Mathilde Verdain, a bank employee.

However, the perception that though Sarkozy might be the "right"
person to inject a dose of capitalism within their economy, Karim
Awad, is unsure if the people are ready for such non-socialist
changes.

"Students' protests to a new employment law last year wasn't
encouraging," he said. And what of the potential first woman
president? There seems to be a feeling Segolene Royal is a creation of
the media.

Vinita Bharadwaj is an independent writer currently in Paris

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