France's Political Process

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the 2002 election of Jacque Chirac to the presidency and the 2007 election of Nicolas Sarkozy. The paper explains how these two elections show that the French political process as well as national interests have changed significantly in contemporary times. The paper also discusses how the term of a presidency is shorter and how citizens are holding their president responsible for the campaign promises that they have made. In addition, the paper notes that the central issues within both elections were the ability of the government to prevent an increase in social disturbances, law and order and the downturn of the economy.

From the Paper:

"The importance of the 2002 and 2007 elections lay not only in the political process, but also the issues and platforms that they championed. Since the 1980s, France has been experiencing a period of dramatic change and dynamic conflict. Unemployment since the 1980s has remained at a steady 10% regardless of numerous legislative attempts to change the unemployment circumstance. Crime has also increasing substantially in the past two decades with an incremental rise in petty and juvenile delinquency. These policies along with a growing xenophobia that results from the recent riots of 2006 as well as the growing sentiment that Muslims and immigrants from North Africa are responsible for the growing social problems greatly impacted these elections. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• The President of the Republic by Maryvonne Bonnard in Institutions and political life under the Fifth Republic - La Documentation francaise - 2003
• Associated Press. "Voting begins in presidential election in France", International Herald Tribune, 2007-04-22. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
• Le Pen tells his supporters to abstain in French election (2007-05-01). Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
• Sarkozy takes French presidency, BBC News, 6 May 2007
• French Presidential Election 2002, Wikipedia.com, June 2007

More papers on France's Political Process:

• Research Paper # 51911 : "Decentralisation in France"
• Research Paper # 51915 : "The Rise of the National Front in France"
• Essay # 16882 : "World History"

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