The French are so upset Kerry didn't win. Any wonder why?
Long Wait for Results in Nation That Heavily Backed Kerry
By Eva Cahen
CNSNews.com Correspondent
November 03, 2004
Paris (CNSNews.com) - As America was awaiting the election result, U.S. citizens living in Paris also spent a sleepless night that turned into a full day, waiting for the vote count and hoping that they would not once again have to explain to the French why the largest democracy in the world does not elect its president by a simple popular vote.
At an election night event organized by the Association of Americans Residing Overseas (AARO) in Paris, hundreds of Americans and French gathered to discuss politics, listen to music and dance in a bi-partisan gathering of both Republicans and Democrats Abroad.
French attendees reacted pessimistically at news of Sen. John Kerry's concession call to President Bush. Pascal Benazet, an editor, said it is hard for the French to understand the president's reelection.
"Most French disagree not only on the Iraqi issue but also on the many moral and society issues where Bush's stances are judged very conservative," he said.
French officials refrained from commenting about the winner until official confirmation.
Instead, Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, in an interview on RTL radio, praised American democracy and said "a new stage is starting. It is a very important moment for the world."
Stephanie Simonard, spokesperson for Republicans Abroad, is one of the Americans who during the campaign have been explaining the U.S. system to the French. She has also been defending Bush and his policies to a nation that heavily favored Kerry.
"There are a lot of misconceptions about Bush," said Simonard. "And it's true that Kerry is more of an internationalist but with Kerry too, the French would still be dissatisfied - even more dissatisfied, because America's policies would be the same and they'd blame him even more."
The heavy preference for the Kerry ticket was evident at the election night event, where Kerry badges and banners were predominant and Democrats Abroad spokesperson Anna Marie Mattson also watched the electoral vote count anxiously.
In the early hours of election night, Mattson said the French government had just been waiting for the elections, hoping for a Kerry win so they could begin improving currently cool relations with the United States, possibly through a U.N. solution.
"There's been a wait-an-see attitude before even thinking of negotiations to find a solution for Iraq," said Mattson.
During the long wait for the outcome, the U.S. electoral system was a popular topic of conversation.
Claire Boyer, a French woman who lived in the U.S. for five years and is now the Paris Youth Coordinator of the Association France-Etats Unis, said she found it very strange that the American people do not elect their president directly.
Boyer said she was living in Florida in 2000, during the last elections, and while she was fascinated by American politics, she was disappointed by what she witnessed there.
"I hope this won't be like the last time when the Supreme Court decided the outcome of the elections," said Boyer, as early electoral vote counts trickled in.
Lisa Bryant, a New York real estate professional working in Paris said she had come to the event to share the moment with other Americans in France.
"I came here thinking President Bush would win early and fast and Kerry wouldn't pull it off but now if there's a tie, I don't know how long it will go on," she said as the Paris night headed towards dawn.
French media has been covering the U.S. elections as a top story for months, acknowledging that America is a super-power and what happens in Washington will have far-reaching consequences.
Later coverage focused not only on the candidates but on explanations of the Electoral College and bemusement at America's difficulties in electing a president.
"Electoral Archaism" was the title of an editorial in the French afternoon daily, Le Monde , calling dishonorable the long lines of voters waiting into the night in Ohio and America's inability to reform its electoral system.
The article said it was worrisome that the fate of the world depended on what it called such an archaic system.
cnsnews.com\ForeignBureaus\archive\200411\FOR20041103b.html |
