[jaxie]

So apparently, according to press on google feeds this morning, President Macron said on the Andrew Marr show that the French would probably also vote to leave the EU if given a yes/no referendum.

For me this puts forward the question, does the French President listen to his people or ignore them based on his own wishes and political ambitions?

Thoughts anyone?

Couple of links included. I missed the show with a Sunday sleep in, did anyone watch it?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...t-vote-mistake

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/90...-Brussels-Marr

[Underscore]

Well it's just his view.

He's under no obligation to hold a referendum as he didn't have it in his manifesto and why should he waste political capital. I am sure it will be in the next election though, but by then everyone will have seen the success/failure of Brexit which will probably change public mood significantly.

[Wizard.]

Yeah he is definitely putting his own career / relationship with the EU & Germany ahead of France. But why then, when he ran a campaign on a pro-EU stance, and won a majority, would the French people think this? They had their chance with Marie Le Pen, and rightly didn't want a fascist running the country. So yeah, you don't always get what you want.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Riley.

Yeah he is definitely putting his own career / relationship with the EU & Germany ahead of France. But why then, when he ran a campaign on a pro-EU stance, and won a majority, would the French people think this? They had their chance with Marie Le Pen, and rightly didn't want a fascist running the country. So yeah, you don't always get what you want.

Well its complicated isn't it because you might want the chance of a referendum without having a fascist party in power. They don't have to go hand in hand. So I'm not sure the French people can be viewed to have said no to a referendum.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by jaxie

So apparently, according to press on google feeds this morning, President Macron said on the Andrew Marr show that the French would probably also vote to leave the EU if given a yes/no referendum.

For me this puts forward the question, does the French President listen to his people or ignore them based on his own wishes and political ambitions?

Thoughts anyone?

Couple of links included. I missed the show with a Sunday sleep in, did anyone watch it?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...t-vote-mistake

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/90...-Brussels-Marr

I have little respect for a president who doesn’t consider the views of his own people. I do believe it is more about his career than what may be best for France. From what I have read it isn’t just Britain and France thinking like this. I would love to see about 10 years into the future to see where European countries really stand on this - I have a feeling the EU will no longer be and everyone will be wondering what all the fuss was about.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Underscore

Well it's just his view.

He's under no obligation to hold a referendum as he didn't have it in his manifesto and why should he waste political capital. I am sure it will be in the next election though, but by then everyone will have seen the success/failure of Brexit which will probably change public mood significantly.

Very good points.

[bitontheslide]

Well it was hardly cut and dried here so i'm not sure how he could tell with accuracy one way or another without holding a referendum. The french people are not exactly shy about voicing their displeasure if something annoys me, so if they were not happy in the EU, they would get their point across.

[Withano]

52% of French people are wrong too?

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

52% of French people are wrong too?

The majority can never be wrong - not even 50. 001%. The majority is the majority - only sore losers quibble over numbers.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

The majority can never be wrong

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Those 84% of religious people in the world are gonna be so happy to learn that the majority are never wrong. You're not religious are you? Sorry. Minority is always wrong.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

Those 84% of religious people in the world are gonna be so happy to learn that the majority are never wrong. You're not religious are you? Sorry. Minority is always wrong.

Sorry did you not get that I was talking about a majority public vote where the majority is the deciding factor - was that not obvious? What the hell has religion got to do with this!

[joeysteele]

The majority are not always right at all.
One example,no matter what,at the time a majority of public opinion and vast majority of Parliament supported the invasion of Iraq.

That,clearly was a terrible majority decision.

The majority of the UK too would support the UK re introducing the death penalty.
Another example of the majority not knowing best at all.

Personally,I doubt the French would vote to leave the EU and furthermore,I would guess,unlike here,some criteria to such a vote would be firmly in place from the French govt., likely as to a required percentage or majority size,linked too as to turnout.

[Northern Monkey]

He may very well be right.I’d think there’s probably alot of EU scepticism in Europe due to the terrible way the EU handled the migrant crisis.