Dominique de Villepin announces bid for 2012 French presidency

Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin on Sunday night announced that he will stand for the presidency in next year's election.

Mr Villepin is best remembered on the international stage for his 2003 speech at the United Nations arguing against the US-led invasion of Iraq Photo

9:12PM GMT 11 Dec 2011

The conservative long-time rival of President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has not yet formally announced his expected re-election bid, made the announcement during an interview on France's TF1 television channel.

Mr Villepin said he planned to defend, "a certain vision of France," that includes less dependence on market speculation.

His announcement was a surprise blow to Mr Sarkozy, and his UMP Party, who had hoped Mr Villepin would rally behind them in what is already expected to be a tough race for the French president. Mr Sarkozy's popularity ratings are low, despite having risen in recent weeks. A Journal du Dimanche poll last month showed 34 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the president.

Mr Villepin said he had no intention of an alliance with Sarkozy, his long time political opponent, explaining that the two had met recently in order to smooth over past differences, but not to forge political ties.

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"I've put the grudges aside. What interests me are the interests of France," said Mr Villepin.

French commentators were quick to express their "surprise" after hearing the announcement, because Villepin has been attributed with only 1 per cent or 2 per cent of voting intentions in the first round of elections scheduled for April, 2012. He has also lost several key members of his République Solidaire right-leaning party, to the Sarkozy camp.

"We had the impression Villepin was finished, in a way," said Frédérique Delpech, political reporter for LCI French television.

Mr Villepin's name has also been linked to a recent corruption scandal under investigation, involving the Relais & Chateaux hotel and restaurant group. Mr Villepin has denied any knowledge of the group's alleged embezzlement of 1.6 million euros (£1.4 million) pocketed from sales of its guidebooks.

Jean-Pierre Grand, president of Mr Villepin's République Solidaire party, said there was no reason to be surprised by the announcement. Speaking on French LCI television, he said, "I suggest you follow him on the streets, and see how the French talk to him, you'll see. He's not alone."

he is no Philippe Pétain

France greatest hero

LTKilling wrote:

he is no Philippe Pétain

France greatest hero

good for you dear

Hollande raises spectre of renegotiating European accord

* Socialist says deficits won't come down without growth

* Sarkozy wants mid-2012 ratification

By Brian Love

PARIS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - French Socialist Francois Hollande said on Monday that he would seek to renegotiate the terms of the latest euro zone rescue plan if elected president next year.

European leaders agreed in Brussels on Friday to draft a new treaty for deeper economic integration and tougher budget discipline, with near-automatic sanctions for those whose deficits overshoot.

"Without economic growth we will achieve none of the targets on deficit reduction," said Hollande, who said the accord was insufficient both as a short-term answer and a long-term solution to the continent's sovereign debt crisis.


The deal seeks to end almost two years of turmoil in financial markets. Hollande's promise to challenge it irked the conservative UMP party of President Nicolas Sarkozy, who hopes the tricky process of ratification across the region will be wrapped up by shortly after mid-year.

Hollande is ahead in opinion polls for the two-round presidential election next April 22 and May 6, although his lead has narrowed in recent weeks as Sarkozy has striven to make progress on the euro rescue plan.

HOW FAR WOULD RENEGOTIATION GO?

Sarkozy, one of the main instigators of the European summit accord, has yet to declare his intentions but is widely expected to seek re-election and face Hollande in the deciding second round of the contest.

If Hollande wins, Socialist Party spokesman Benoit Hamon said, "we are not going to seek the ratification of a treaty we did not negotiate, and which we think makes for more crisis than there was already."

The Socialists engaged in similar sabre-rattling back in 1997 when they vowed to renegotiate Europe's deficit-control rules, known as the stability pact, if they won power.

They did, but the renegotiation ultimately boiled down to a semantic one. The deal was re-labelled as the stability and growth pact, in a nod to the need for economic expansion alongside fiscal rectitude.

Parliamentary elections take place in the weeks after the May presidential result. The Socialists hope a Hollande election win will create the momentum needed to secure control of parliament in June.

Huummmm

not looking good for the union

that is if its still around

LTKilling wrote:

he is no Philippe Pétain

France greatest hero

Enculé !

Dominique Vile Penis

I remember froggy asshole quite well... another "dearest friend" of Saddam Hussein

yes, les frogs deserve him

If he wins it could mean the revival of fuckfrance.

Damn I might just vote for him just to get the yanks all pissy again about being told to fuck off in 2003.

Lily42 wrote:

Damn I might just vote for him just to get the yanks all pissy again about being told to fuck off in 2003.

Get real, creep. We couldn't care less who's president of your 3rd rate has been country.

"Get real, creep. We couldn't care less who's president of your 3rd rate has been country."


So ,why this thread and why FuckFrance.com ?

While we are at it, I show you the probable futur president of France: François Hollande.

simplefrench wrote:

"Get real, creep. We couldn't care less who's president of your 3rd rate has been country."


So ,why this thread and why FuckFrance.com ?

We always treat backstabbers like this. Even if they're 3rd has beens....like you French.

"We always treat backstabbers like this. Even if they're 3rd has beens....like you French."


psss,nobody gives a shit about Iraq you know ?

simplefrench wrote:


While we are at it, I show you the probable futur president of France.

it is known !

test, merci Simp for the picture

I prefer the real pic above.

someone should do de vile pin with a pomello on his head

martsy wrote:

Dominique Vile Penis

I remember froggy asshole quite well... another "dearest friend" of Saddam Hussein

yes, les frogs deserve him

Your wordplay is bad. By the way,Villepin will not be elected. Impossible.

By the way,Villepin will not be elected. Impossible.

Don't be like that, Simpy. Have you seen the guy's hair? It's fantastic!

simplefrench wrote:

"We always treat backstabbers like this. Even if they're 3rd has beens....like you French."


psss,nobody gives a shit about Iraq you know ?

Here's an even bigger pssss......even the Germans doen't care who the French president is. He or she will do as they're told.

"Here's an even bigger pssss......even the Germans doen't care who the French president is. He or she will do as they're told."



slightly true. Even if i think you absolutely don't know what has been decided by France and Germany.

Looks like the leading contender to be France's next President is another milk toast looking runt. Just another French flunky for Fat Anna to slap around.

Hell, he's even shorter than Sarkozy. Better get a bigger box. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!

"Hell, he's even shorter than Sarkozy. Better get a bigger box. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!"


Yeah,he is short.No doubt.Not a big deal. What is important is his actions.

simplefrench wrote:

"Hell, he's even shorter than Sarkozy. Better get a bigger box. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!"


Yeah,he is short.No doubt.Not a big deal. What is important is his actions.

Fat Anna will be calling the shots......or whoever is chancellor of Germany. It sure as hell won't be the French whether it's this runt or some other French bit player. The French suck up to the Krauts so they won't make them sit at the children's table.

I don't think so. If France want to change treaties,it will do it.
But currently we can't for economic reasons. We have too much debts.

simplefrench wrote:

While we are at it, I show you the probable futur president of France: François Hollande.

looks like a fag

and a douche