It should be added that this assertive non was in the face of a massive campaign: not just the leadership of the Socialist and pro-government parties but the extraordinary use of the state owned media networks, etc. A true David vs Goliath battle.
Paul
I wrote:
>Michael Pugliese writes:
>> Subtract the LePen fascists, and it would have gone the other way.
>
>We will see the detailed breakdowns, but the polls have been consistent
>for weeks showing that the Non vote was overwhelmingly a vote *from the
>left*. It represents a major shift to the left and a left rejection of
>neo-liberalism. It *may* turn out to be the single biggest electoral
>defeat for current neo-liberalism so far. Even Chirac, in his concession
>speech, acknowledged that the vote reflects "discontent with the way
>globalization has been carried out".
>
>Enjoy your victory.
>
>Paul
>
>[I pointed out to Michael (offlist, by accident) that the Le Pen phenomena
>is also a bit complicated since a certain part of his votes comes from
>working class ex-left voters who "fell back" upon popularist racism after
>the failures of the left in the 80's. Other parts of his vote come from
>the former Poujadist movement and will remain with Le Pen, but some might
>still be reachable by a progressive anti-liberalism movement. The Dutch
>vote in two days may be more mixed.]