Le Nouvel Observateur on President Bush's re-election

French weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur published this partisan cover today.
Here’s the translation.
THE AMERICA OF FEAR HAS WON
BUSH 2 WORSE THAN BUSH 1?

French Post-Election Reactions

From Le Monde as translated by Google, and slightly smoothed out by me :

The fate of the presidency of the only hyperpower is in the hands of those who enter the ballots in Ohio and, perhaps, if there is dispute, of those of the courts. And even of the supreme Court as in 2000. What an image for a democracy which is given as an example to the world, with these voters voting late in the night in Ohio, these votes anticipated, conditional, these defective voting machines, these calculations without end!

Such a disorder, unimaginable in the majority of the other democratic countries, is not with the honor of America. And it is alarming that the fate of the world is suspended with such an antiquated system.

How very… French.

And from the AFP via Expatica :

Sixty-five percent of French citizens think US President George W. Bush’s re-election is a “bad thing”, according to an opinion poll published here Thursday.

Just 23 percent of respondents felt the Republican president’s victory is “a good thing,” with 12 percent expressing no opinion either way, the poll published in Le Parisien newspaper showed.

On future Franco-US relations, at a low over France’s opposition to the US-led military action in Iraq, almost three-quarters (74 percent) of those questioned expected to see no change while 12 percent looked forward to improved ties and just seven percent expected things to get worse.

The CSA polling agency questioned 780 people aged 15 or over by telephone on Wednesday.

Other stories demonstrating French Cultural Superiority in Expatica include the almost-routine vandalism of jewish cemeteries, rather too much interest in other crypts, and of course, European Environmentalisme. Quelle Fromage!

Not far from Paris, reactions in Brussels

This from The Financial Times

The apparent re-election of President George W Bush is the news most of Europe never wanted to hear. But with four more years in the White House seemingly assured for Mr Bush, many leaders will now have to rebuild bridges with Washington. Despite a diplomatic silence throughout the campaign and into Wednesday morning, there has been an unmistakeable desire in much of Europe for Mr Kerry to win, one expressed privately by government officials and vociferously by the public at large.

From FT.com. Read The view from Brussels, by Daniel Dombey

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier reacts

PARIS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - France hailed the U.S. election as an important moment in world diplomacy on Wednesday, calling it an opportunity to revive the transatlantic relationship no matter who wins. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier declined to comment on the latest projections showing President George W. Bush moving to the verge of victory over the Democratic challenger, U.S. Sen. John Kerry. “I can however tip my hat to American democracy,” he told RTL radio in an interview. “A new stage is starting. It is a very important moment for the world.

From Reuters. Full article.

French press reacts

Here’s a link (thanks to Le Nouvel Observateur) to today’s covers of French daily newspapers.

In Paris, Dems went to bed singing...

Dems in Paris were very upbeat and many of them went to bed ignoring that Bush would carry Florida (and maybe Ohio). The time zone difference worked in treacherous ways for the Parisian fans of Kerry… The mood at the party tonight was influenced by exit polls and internet rumors. Sounded like it was a completely different election. There are so few GOPs in Paris, that Dems ended up being insulated from reality. I guess morning coffee will have a bitter taste.

Election Night in Paris

First a couple of pictures from legendary Harry’s Bar:

Then a few pics from Planet Hollywood on the Champs Elysees:

Joseph Smallhoover International Counsel Dems Abroad

Zach Miller - Dems Abroad

The Band

The food! This is France…

Signs

It’s 6:11 am in Paris and I’m home alone to learn that the President just carried Florida.

Afternoon pics on the Champs Elysees

The bipartisan Election Night party in Paris will start within one hour from now, at The Planet Hollywood on the Champs Elysees. Here are some pics I took this afternoon. This display of force by the mainstream media is VERY UNUSUAL!

Paris 2004 is bipartisan!

Good evening from Paris. It’s pretty cold here.
Paris 2004 is definitively bipartisan. Democrats Abroad France and Republicans Abroad France will be holding, together, a bipartisan Election Night party at a restaurant in the Champs Elysees area. We received a beautiful invitation with, printed on it, a flag, a donkey and an elephant. Maybe I’m a bit naive, but I just loved it! Another bipartisan party will take place at historical American watering hole, maybe the oldest one, Harry’s Bar. I’ll report from both places.
Good luck to my 85 fellow correspondents!