Congratulations to Segolene Royal, a candidate for President in France who found the time to stick her Gallic nose into the affairs of another sovereign nation.
Not content to limit her political aspirations to the work at hand in France, Madame Royal, the Socialist candidate for the Presidency of Le Republique, decided to add international affairs to her position paper.
Making more than few headlines in Canada after a meeting with Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair on Monday, she waded into political waters where wiser heads may have chosen to stay out of.
Said madame: the province and France have common values, including “sovereignty and Quebec's freedom.” Now considering the fact that she has never visited Quebec or that other attached land mass that it sits in Canada, it's rather remarkable that she would have a comment on the affairs of an independent nation at all.
Now we're not wise to the macro-political aspect of international affairs, but it seems to me that in Quebec they have a fair amount of latitude in their own affairs, not to mention probably more freedom than a good many citizens of her own Republic may have, so perhaps a little research, and a lot less talking next time please.
It would seem that she forgets those occasions last century, when Canadians of all language groups and ethnic persuasions fought pitched battles to liberate her beloved chunk of land in Europe, a country that would not enjoy it's present state of meddlesome freedom without our sacrifices. Maybe a field trip to the beaches of Normandy and the memorials and cemeteries located there might be helpful to the lady that would be President.
Perhaps we could advise Madame Antoinette er, Royal, that she had best keep her meddling ways to matters of more urgent local interest, such as the simmering discontent in the cities of France. A tinderbox that could blow at any moment, considering the rampant racism, unemployment and suspicion of those of that don't have a French birth certificate.
Considering France's wonderful domestic record of late, from Madame Royal we need no advice, no chastisements, nor any further conversation.
If this is the kind of International bridge building from France that we can expect under a Socialist French government, then we suspect that Madame Royal, may end up being just a bit of a royal pain in the.....
Oh, where's Lester Pearson when we need him!
French presidential candidate opens sovereignty can of worms
MICHEL DOLBEC
Canadian Press
January 22, 2007
PARIS — Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Jean Charest have taken French presidential candidate Segolene Royal to task for saying she sympathizes with the idea of Quebec sovereignty.
The Socialist hopeful was asked about her thoughts on Quebec's national question after a short meeting with Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair in Paris on Monday.
Ms. Royal, who has never visited Quebec, said the province and France have common values, including “sovereignty and Quebec's freedom.”
Mr. Harper issued a statement in which he questioned the wisdom of Ms. Royal weighing in on a Canadian debate.
“Experience teaches that it is highly inappropriate for a foreign leader to interfere in the democratic affairs of another country,” he said.“We look forward to marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Canada at Quebec City with the next president of France.
“We expect in turn that the next president will display an understanding of our shared history, and the respect for Canada and Canadians that such an important partnership requires.”
Speaking in Montreal, Mr. Charest said he invited Ms. Royal to Quebec after she became head of the French Socialists but that she turned him down.
“And furthermore, what I also know is that the future of Quebec will be decided by Quebeckers, no one else.”
Federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who was visiting Quebec City, said Ms. Royal's comments hurt her credibility.
Mr. Boisclair said Ms. Royal's comments show she's sympathetic to sovereignty and understands his message.
“I think Quebeckers will interpret Ms. Royal's remarks for themselves,” he said. “It would be improper of me to do so but what people have seen is that France, in all circumstances, will be at Quebec's side.”
Not content to limit her political aspirations to the work at hand in France, Madame Royal, the Socialist candidate for the Presidency of Le Republique, decided to add international affairs to her position paper.
Making more than few headlines in Canada after a meeting with Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair on Monday, she waded into political waters where wiser heads may have chosen to stay out of.
Said madame: the province and France have common values, including “sovereignty and Quebec's freedom.” Now considering the fact that she has never visited Quebec or that other attached land mass that it sits in Canada, it's rather remarkable that she would have a comment on the affairs of an independent nation at all.
Now we're not wise to the macro-political aspect of international affairs, but it seems to me that in Quebec they have a fair amount of latitude in their own affairs, not to mention probably more freedom than a good many citizens of her own Republic may have, so perhaps a little research, and a lot less talking next time please.
It would seem that she forgets those occasions last century, when Canadians of all language groups and ethnic persuasions fought pitched battles to liberate her beloved chunk of land in Europe, a country that would not enjoy it's present state of meddlesome freedom without our sacrifices. Maybe a field trip to the beaches of Normandy and the memorials and cemeteries located there might be helpful to the lady that would be President.
Perhaps we could advise Madame Antoinette er, Royal, that she had best keep her meddling ways to matters of more urgent local interest, such as the simmering discontent in the cities of France. A tinderbox that could blow at any moment, considering the rampant racism, unemployment and suspicion of those of that don't have a French birth certificate.
Considering France's wonderful domestic record of late, from Madame Royal we need no advice, no chastisements, nor any further conversation.
If this is the kind of International bridge building from France that we can expect under a Socialist French government, then we suspect that Madame Royal, may end up being just a bit of a royal pain in the.....
Oh, where's Lester Pearson when we need him!
French presidential candidate opens sovereignty can of worms
MICHEL DOLBEC
Canadian Press
January 22, 2007
PARIS — Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Jean Charest have taken French presidential candidate Segolene Royal to task for saying she sympathizes with the idea of Quebec sovereignty.
The Socialist hopeful was asked about her thoughts on Quebec's national question after a short meeting with Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair in Paris on Monday.
Ms. Royal, who has never visited Quebec, said the province and France have common values, including “sovereignty and Quebec's freedom.”
Mr. Harper issued a statement in which he questioned the wisdom of Ms. Royal weighing in on a Canadian debate.
“Experience teaches that it is highly inappropriate for a foreign leader to interfere in the democratic affairs of another country,” he said.“We look forward to marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Canada at Quebec City with the next president of France.
“We expect in turn that the next president will display an understanding of our shared history, and the respect for Canada and Canadians that such an important partnership requires.”
Speaking in Montreal, Mr. Charest said he invited Ms. Royal to Quebec after she became head of the French Socialists but that she turned him down.
“And furthermore, what I also know is that the future of Quebec will be decided by Quebeckers, no one else.”
Federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who was visiting Quebec City, said Ms. Royal's comments hurt her credibility.
Mr. Boisclair said Ms. Royal's comments show she's sympathetic to sovereignty and understands his message.
“I think Quebeckers will interpret Ms. Royal's remarks for themselves,” he said. “It would be improper of me to do so but what people have seen is that France, in all circumstances, will be at Quebec's side.”
No comments:
Post a Comment