French Presidential Elections 2017

In France, on 7th May 2017 Sunday, the second round of voting for presidential elections took place. Just for curiosity, I look at the candidates' biographies in wikipedia, and the policies they promised,

There was a female candidate, Marine LePen, a lawyer, chairwoman of French Nationalist Front, with a long political history, a senior and experienced politician who inherited the party from her far rightist father, then fired his father, defended her exit policy from the European Union named Frexit. She wanted immigrants as well as Muslim minorities to be deported from France. She says "Every Friday at noon time, you close the streets of Paris to pray. That means the invasion of France. The occupation is not done only with tanks, guns, or rifle. You can not insert yourself visible in a Christian country. The immigrants should return to their countries," She further says "I certainly do not cover my head when talking to Muslim leaders".

Marine LePen was married twice, divorced twice, now lives with a third partner now without marriage, She has three adult age children from her first marriage. She uses social media, also speaks very well on the podium.

The second most important candidate was Emmanuel Macron, born in year 1977, 40-years-old, first investor banker, then economy minister in Hollande government. He speaks fluent English, he is young dynamic, supports European Union. He promotes more immigrants to come. He supports reducing global warming, climate change, renewable energies. He pursues European policies. He uses social media very well. He has more than 660 thousand followers on twitter account,

Emmanuel Macron, married to Brigitte Trogneux in 2007. Brigitte was born in 1953, 26 years senior of Emmanuel Macron. Emmanuel Macron was at school at the age of 16 when they met. She was French literature teacher in his high school. Emmanuel Macron's family objected to this situation with Brigitte Trogneux, who had been married to a banker at that time. She had three children from his banker husband. She had divorced the banker husband and married Emmanuel Macron in 2007,

Donald Trump (70) is married to Melanie (42). Emmanuel Macron (40) marries Brigitte (63). That is their private life. We look at the politics of the country how it is ruled, the rule of law, the continuation of the parliamentary regime, the separation of powers, the smooth and fair elections. Politicians' emotional life is not our business.

LePen and Macron were the Candidates with the first two most votes. The first two most-voted candidates in France met again in the election round on May 7th. At the end of the day, Emmanuel Macron won 65% of the vote. Emmanuel Macron is 40 years old.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaux is 45 years old, Barrack Obama was 47 years old when he was first elected. Are new young leaders forming a trend in the democratic world? In each of the next elections will young leaders in their 40s stand out?

The new political agenda in France will be upgrading economy, the status of refugees, inland security and terror, and the relations with European Union.

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Haluk Direskeneli, is a graduate of METU Mechanical Engineering department (1973). He worked in public, private enterprises, USA Turkish JV companies (B&W, CSWI, AEP), in fabrication, basic and detail design, marketing, sales and project management of thermal power plants. He is currently working as freelance consultant/ energy analyst with thermal power plants basic/ detail design software expertise for private engineering companies, investors, universities and research institutions. He is a member of ODTÜ Alumni and Chamber of Turkish Mechanical Engineers Energy Working Group.

This article is written for the "EurasiaReview" news web site.

http://www.eurasiareview.com/author/haluk-direskeneli/

Ankara, 8 May 2017