Cultural agenda of French political parties

I recently had an interesting time at a debate of the Jeunes Socalistes – okay, I was an imposter having no right to vote but the debate was nearby at mythic venue Maison de l’Amerique Latine, a sumptuous mansion near rue du Bac which has been the scene of leftist victory parties in the past. This year? Not sure the champagne socialists will be swigging the bubbly stuff and with 25 days to go we'd have to see an improvement in the sondages for Ségolène Royal. See ThisFrenchLife for a quick-list of the other candidates.

Bayrou looks like splitting the Left vote and the devout Catholic is firmly in the running now. It's well known in French politics that you have to know the best way to pat a cows arse (that's ass for US readers) to win (thereby winning over the Nation, many of whom have peasant roots). Baymoo is on the right path with that now. Let's face it, can you see Sarkozy or Mme Royal in a pair of wellies?

If I could vote, Ségolène would get mine. First she's a woman and second, she's a woman. But apart from that I just want that Gung-Ho Sarkozy sent packing as I believe he'd be a dangerous person to have in charge of France as she goes through some serious growing pains.

The debate was mainly about the cultural agenda of the socialists (basically "reintegration of the culture at school/education level") and the agenda of the other parties. The UMP (Niciolas Sarkozy) would quite like to all but do away with the Ministere du Culture altogether and I guess bring in private backing for the Arts a la Londres et NYC. Hey, that's the Pricewaterhousecoopers/Monet exhibition to you.

Each group had their gripes and were not shy to speak up, (actors, performers etc moaning about their current treatment at the hands of the complicated Social Security system, they've got a point) until a nice man pointed out the election must be won before Mme Royal could do anything at all about all these problems.

According to one intermittant de spectacle, (professional performers, actors, musicians etc) France was lagging terribly behind the rest of the world and we'd only to look at the programming at Theatre de la Ville to see the world class companies from abroad and a fast diminishing French representation. Everyone cheeered her anyway. I guessed she worked for the Cirque de Soliel although she didn't say. I could just tell by her hairstyle and make up. She was a great orator anyhow.

A recent article in International Herald Tribune says "the French art scene has lost its buzz. The culture of the past looks safe, with government- owned museums, opera houses and theaters all well attended. But today's creators, from artists to writers, often seem out of touch with society. In a country gripped by uncertainty about its identity, in a campaign dominated by the word change, they have little to say."

It's a thought provoking article and one worth reading.