france
elections
	president/NA
		single-member districts (1986 experiment with proportional representation)
		majority
		usually two rounds(because runoffs are usually required)
		UK: first past the post(FPTP) = plurality
	senate
		electoral college
	2002
		Chirac 19%
		LePen 16.8%
		Jospin 16.2%
	Front National
		established in 1972
		anti-immigration platform
		not really significant since immigrants are needed for labor
		becomes more relevant in 80s, 14% in first round
		fringe with effect on mainstream
			cross-sectional appeal
			far left responds
			center-right responds
			2002 elections
		4th republic decided to pull out of algeria after considering it a french territory for a long time
		DeGualle called in to convince military to act one way or the other, agrees to come in, but on condition to rule by decree for 6 months
			reorganizes everything
			pulls france's military out of nato, but maintains intelligence connections
			asserts power in europe
			kept UK from joining EU
			policy of grandeur trying to return france to former glory
			dirigisme - strongly direct industry/enterprise
		DeGaulle 1958, 1965, founder of 5th republic, war hero
			wanted to reform senate, but shot down, so quit
			replaced by PM, Pompidou 1969
			Giscard d'Estaing 1974
			Mitterand 1981, 1988 - first from the left for a while
				tries to nationalize industry, push forward a socialist agenda/economy, has a center-right PM
				work week shortened
				retirement aid decreasing over time
			Chirac 1995, 2002
				neo-Gaulist agenda
				asserting french role on global scene
				PM is same party
				old hat
				gets Mitterand as PM later
				strong law and order president
				strong foreign policy, aloof from US politics, esp after 9/11
				allegations of corruption
			Sarkozy 2007+
				studied polisci
				part of neo-G party
				kind of a douche, reacted hastily
				sold himself as son of immigrants
				very law and order
				wants closer relations with US
				improve french labor conditions
				goes yachting with Bush
				french don't like that
				current leader of EU