Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Same-Old Same-Old In France

Photo: French President Francois Hollande.

New Style, New Slogans, No New Policies: Beleaguered Hollande Tries To Start Again -- The Independent

President François Hollande attempted to re-launch his struggling presidency last night by promising to re-build a strong France for a "new generation" and a "new world".

In a press conference seen as a critical opportunity to set a new tone and a new direction after a much-criticised first six months in office, Mr Hollande sought to abandon his image as a bumbling and laid-back "President Normal" and tried to define himself instead as a hands-on "President Responsible".

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My Comment: I live in the French province of Quebec (Canada), and in the past few months we have become a magnet for French citizens who are eager to immigrate and live here. My business partner has just signed up with a group of IT people who are .... not surprisingly .... French citizens who immigrated here over the summer to start a new IT business. When I first met them I asked them .... like I do everyone else .... on why did they decide to come here. Their answers .... and it is always the same for everyone else .... is that they did not want to move, but there is no longer any opportunity and freedom to pursue one's dreams and goals from places like France anymore.

Being one who left Russia years ago when the borders opened up .... I understand this sentiment. When you lose your entrepreneurs and risk takers you are just one step away from poverty and a society that becomes dependent on government for your livelihood. If my new French friends are right .... France is going down that road.

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