Royal veers left

Despite being the socialist candidate for President of France, Segolene Royal had been running on a fairly moderate platform. However having fallen behind in the polls she has veered sharply to the left in an effort to revitlaise her campaign.

She has released 100 proposals for France, including:

* raise pensions by 5%
* increase the minimum wage from €1,250 to €1,500
* guarantee a job or further training for every youth within six months of graduating
* reducing the number of students in classes.
* 120,000 new homes every year for the poor
* Councils to be able to confiscate empty homes
* windfall profits tax for oil companues
* government regulation of bank charges
* schildren to start school at three instead of six
* free tutoring for students that have difficulties keeping up
* tax companies in relation to what share of their profits is reinvested in equipment and jobs, and what portion is paid to shareholders.
* abolish a flexible work contract for small companies
* young women would get free contraception
* all young people would get access to a €10,000 interest- free loan
* handicapped would see their benefits rise
* lobby for the European Central Bank to consider not just inflation but also employment and growth when it sets interest rates

Of course not much idea of how this would be paid for. But you know I could almost hope she wins on this platform as introducing it would do over France nicely, and that can’t be an entirely bad thing 🙂