The post you are reporting:
Well...its all happening today.
Will Hollande win? It is now in the lap of the Gods. Socialist Hollande is still favourite but Sarkozy has closed the gap...but barring a gobsmacking error on how the pollsters are reading it, it looks like Hollande.
So...Are we seeing a rise in Socialism right across Europe?
Could be.
What we are definitely seeing though is a backlash aginst eternal austerity across Europe. In Holland, in the Czech Republik, in Greece, in the UK, see thursday's election results, and possibly now in France. The politicians will need a plan B if they are contemplating staying on in power. Cameron take note. The day is gone when people just lie back and take what is doled out by well fed politicians, the mood can change very quickly from support to disgust...thanks mostly to instant media.
The well fed well heeled posh factor keeps playing well for socialism. Austerity doesnt hit the rich. Rich man Theo Prophitas said on Question Time the other night, he of rich dragon fame, that the tax reduction from 50p to 45p in the Budget meant nothing at all to him..a rich man, but it was a chronic own goal for the Conservatives.
I might have mentioned the next bit previously..sales of Mercedes cars have soared 130%, sale of Ford cars down 60%.
The above is a barometer. It shows that despite severe downturn, essentially the rich can carry on with no real penalty and no real hardship.
If you accept BarryW's argument that severe cuts are needed...okay, it may be so, the experts disagree re the best path to recovery. But the point to remember is that the public wont accept it, they will vote you out. So your austerity plan will act as nothing more than a PR own goal, it will never see fruition. Ask Sarkozy about this tonight.
