"Interesting Times"

The French have voted for their next president - well, round one anyway.  

Within minutes almost of the polls closing small communes are already posting their results - perhaps not surprisingly when only a few hundred ballot papers are in the box.  And there it is for all the world to see. Forty percent of our neighbours voted for Marine Le Pen.  We knew they were right wing, but not to that extent!

Rural farming areas, aging populations, cautious and conservative, inward-looking, such communities see little of merit in Macron and these days have no interest in socialism and, whilst her father's extremism was unpalatable, Marine in recent years has mellowed her messages and has made herself acceptable.

Across the country as a whole Macron has the lead - just.  Last time, the second round of voting was easy for him.  This time, probably, not so much.  Le Pen has a real chance, especially if the socialists hold their noses and vote for her, in preference to Macron. She may be the lesser of two evils. 

We are in for an interesting two weeks.  And possibly beyond ...