From Expatica, “Police battle anti-Sarkozy protestors”:
Riot squads fired tear gas Sunday at protestors throwing stones, bottles and, in one instance, acid at police in cities across France after right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential victory.
Clashes took place at Paris’ Place de la Bastille, where about 5,000 supporters of the defeated Socialist candidate Segolene Royal had gone to await the election results and had stayed on after Sarkozy’s triumph.
Up to 300 rioters, some wearing scarves around their faces, used bottles and stones in running attacks on police, who responded with baton charges, tear gas and water cannon.
“Police everywhere, justice nowhere,” shouted some of the rioters, while others screamed “Sarko-fascist.”
To recap this kind of socialist thinking: winning an election = FASCISM!; throwing stones, bottles, and acid at police after your candidate loses an election = the highest form of patriotism.
A small crowd of demonstrators, brandishing black and red anarchist flags, set fire to an effigy of Sarkozy before tearing it limb from limb and stamping on it.
Police cleared the square of rioters and Royal supporters alike by midnight, but hardcore anti-Sarkozy protesters later gathered nearby. When they began running towards the centre of the city and throwing bottles, police in riot gear gave pursuit and fired tear gas.
At least one injured man could later be seen lying on the ground nearby.
Royal, in a sharp campaign jab on Friday, predicted Sarkozy’s election could unleash violence in the mainly immigrant suburbs that were the centre of riots in 2005.
Translation: “VOTE FOR ME, OR PARIS WILL SURELY BURN!”
Nice. And virtually self-fuifilling.
In the Paris suburbs, where the 2005 riots began before quickly spreading across France, more than a hundred cars were burned.
Gangs of youths armed with baseball bats were on the streets in poor suburbs south of Paris, according to police.
Ah yes. Youths.
Children Against Fascism. What could be more pure and idealistic?
After all, nothing says “we respect the electoral process” more than braining cops with paving stones if your candidate happens to lose—except, perhaps, for the veiled threats that should France more to the right, disaffected “youths” would be practically forced to express their displeasure by burning cars, smashing windows, and throwing acid. BECAUSE OF THE ANTI-FASCISM!
The Summer of ‘68, revisited. Only this time. perhaps the tide is finally turning in a highly nationalistic country whose pragmatism will always force it, ultimately, to take whatever steps necessary for internal survival—their moralist pronouncements on the world stage notwithstanding.
All I can think of is the scene in Young Frankenstein…”A rrrrriot is an ugly thing…und, I think that it is just about time zat ve had vun!”
Despite the deceptive term “youths” being employed – at least they managed to slip in the little mention that they had come from Socialist Party HQ or gatherings for the Socialist campaign.
Perhaps those that had their cars burnt could send the bill to the Socialist Party.
I suppose that the lefty political activists decided to liven up a bit their night out in Paris. On the other hand, the youths of undisclosed ehtnic and religious/cultural affiliation in the banlieues did more or less what they do all the time.
Do you think any of the anarchists actually voted?
Écrasez l’Infâme!
Where’s Robespierre when they need him?
It wouldn’t even be accurate to call Sarkozy “right-wing” without French socialists as a referrent. A tofu dog is right-wing in comparison.
Helpful info:
Baseball bat vs. H&K MP5 = Dead batsman.
Should that read “losing an election = FASCISM!”?
They are known for that. Just ask the Germans.
For the left and their Jihadi soulmates, nothing says “democracy” like
.
I wonder if lefties will do the same thing in 2008 when a Republican ends up in the White House again.
To be stylish, that is.
My question where the hell in france do you buy a baseball bat?
Curse you, globalization! Baseball bats readily available in a nation that doesn’t even like cricket…
Don’t worry, they’re not aluminum. No one will get hurt.
According to LGF, by “more than a hundred” they meant “730.” Just a rounding error.
I have to admit I don’t understand this French election result. Who surrendered to whom?
Just because I am expresing my dissent, don’t label me a traitor.
Now, can you hold my baseball bat while I torch this Citroen?
I understand Chirac’s troops on the Ivory Coast developed some helicopter techniques that could be applied to considerable effect in Paris…
And despite their ability to get emotional over an omelette, France is highly pragmatic. West Point was modeled after the Ecole Polytechnique with its civil engineering emphasis, and Vauban’s fortifications were the model for the rest of Europe.
The American engineers in Panama were amazed at what the French accomplished with the resources they had.
No, when push comes to shove the French will be brutally efficient and will then cover it all up with fair-sounding words.
Just an aside, but say a Citroen is on the inside…could I pull it to LF better w/a wooden bat or aluminum???
After all, it’s up to the type of bat….
J
I don’t get it…why are these ‘anarchists’ upset with a guy who will give them marginally less government than the proto-commie babe he defeated? Shouldn’t they be less torqued off than had Royal won?
Are these more of those big-government anarchists?
perhaps the tide is finally turning
That would be like declaring global warming to be proven after one hot summer. It’s going to take a bit more than that.
Sarkozy’s election is definitely notable, but all that frustration in France with the grinding stagnation of their economy and the lack of couillons in dealing with les banlieues had to show up somewhere; just because their media (let alone ours) prefers to act as though these sentiments does not exist, doesn’t mean they don’t.
It will be sometime before we can conclude that this is any more than the Summer of Sarkozy.
Is it just me, or is there something really wrong about a socialist named “Royal”?
This should be the best concert series since…oh, uh, I agree we will have to see how the Assembly elections go next month, before we say Sarkozy can do this or that.
–Vidkun Quisling, 1940
Iustitiam populi habebunt. Sarkozum resistite!