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A LEFTIST LEADER ELECTED BY THE PLOY OF THE EXTREME RIGHT
by Saadet Oruc
Star
May 7 2012
Turkey
Francois Hollande has been elected president of France with 51.8 per
cent of the popular vote. The front that built up against Nicolas
Sarkozy played a role in this outcome of the French elections. The
extreme right-wing seeds Sarkozy planted with his own hands ended his
political career. Sarkozy targeted many groups, especially foreigners
and Muslims in France, throughout his campaign. This policy fed the
extreme right and allowed it to win 18 per cent of the vote in the
first round.
The rise of the extreme right, which was fuelled by the policies of
fear promoted by Sarkozy, is the true outcome of the French elections.
Hollande's election does not mean that the left has come to power;
it means that Sarkozy has departed. Hollande is now a politicianwho is
shackled by the rising power of the extreme right in France. This is
because he was elected thanks to the decision of Marine Le Pen not to
support Sarkozy despite the majority of rightist votes in the country.
This is why Le Pen sees Sarkozy's defeat and Hollande's election
as a victory for herself. As the true representative of the French
right, she calculates that the extreme right will take power under her
leadership. Hollande will never be able to step outside the framework
defined by the extreme right.
That framework suggests that hostility to foreigners will continue to
surge as a trend and that politicians who rise to become leaders will
be the slaves of this trend in their policies. This is why Hollande
did not say anything different from Sarkozy with regard to immigration
during the televised debate between the two candidates.
Hollande also does not project an image of "being willing to take a
risk" with regard to Islamophobia.
Hollande will appoint a caretaker prime minister to serve until the
[parliamentary] elections on 10 June. Subsequently, the party that
wins a majority in the parliamentary elections will determine the
permanent prime minister. In view of the narrowing gap between the
two candidates in the last days of the presidential race, we can say
that we must be prepared for a France where the president and the
prime minister are from different parties.
We can already assume that the French hurdle to Turkey's membership
in the EU will continue during Hollande's tenure. In addition to
the hurdles raised by Sarkozy, Hollande sees the recognition of
allegations of Armenian genocide as a prerequisite for Turkey's
membership in the EU. The Armenian question is not the only issue.
Hollande has a tougher stance on Cyprus than his predecessor took.
Even pro-Turkish figures in his party - such as Pierre Moscovici -
will apparently be unable to exert any influence on Hollande on
these issues.
The absence of Sarkozy's "Turkey obsession" in Hollande may be cause
for expecting some positive developments in the future. Nonetheless,
Turkey should not expect easier days in France or Europe in the next
five years.
[translated from Turkish]
by Saadet Oruc
Star
May 7 2012
Turkey
Francois Hollande has been elected president of France with 51.8 per
cent of the popular vote. The front that built up against Nicolas
Sarkozy played a role in this outcome of the French elections. The
extreme right-wing seeds Sarkozy planted with his own hands ended his
political career. Sarkozy targeted many groups, especially foreigners
and Muslims in France, throughout his campaign. This policy fed the
extreme right and allowed it to win 18 per cent of the vote in the
first round.
The rise of the extreme right, which was fuelled by the policies of
fear promoted by Sarkozy, is the true outcome of the French elections.
Hollande's election does not mean that the left has come to power;
it means that Sarkozy has departed. Hollande is now a politicianwho is
shackled by the rising power of the extreme right in France. This is
because he was elected thanks to the decision of Marine Le Pen not to
support Sarkozy despite the majority of rightist votes in the country.
This is why Le Pen sees Sarkozy's defeat and Hollande's election
as a victory for herself. As the true representative of the French
right, she calculates that the extreme right will take power under her
leadership. Hollande will never be able to step outside the framework
defined by the extreme right.
That framework suggests that hostility to foreigners will continue to
surge as a trend and that politicians who rise to become leaders will
be the slaves of this trend in their policies. This is why Hollande
did not say anything different from Sarkozy with regard to immigration
during the televised debate between the two candidates.
Hollande also does not project an image of "being willing to take a
risk" with regard to Islamophobia.
Hollande will appoint a caretaker prime minister to serve until the
[parliamentary] elections on 10 June. Subsequently, the party that
wins a majority in the parliamentary elections will determine the
permanent prime minister. In view of the narrowing gap between the
two candidates in the last days of the presidential race, we can say
that we must be prepared for a France where the president and the
prime minister are from different parties.
We can already assume that the French hurdle to Turkey's membership
in the EU will continue during Hollande's tenure. In addition to
the hurdles raised by Sarkozy, Hollande sees the recognition of
allegations of Armenian genocide as a prerequisite for Turkey's
membership in the EU. The Armenian question is not the only issue.
Hollande has a tougher stance on Cyprus than his predecessor took.
Even pro-Turkish figures in his party - such as Pierre Moscovici -
will apparently be unable to exert any influence on Hollande on
these issues.
The absence of Sarkozy's "Turkey obsession" in Hollande may be cause
for expecting some positive developments in the future. Nonetheless,
Turkey should not expect easier days in France or Europe in the next
five years.
[translated from Turkish]