The Sarkozy solution: A British view of France

A recent survey conducted by creme-de-languedoc.com revealed that half of British expats living in France would have voted for right-winger Sarkozy if they were able to vote. A total of 31 per cent would have voted for socialist candidate Royal. 19 per cent would have voted for centralist Bayrou. Contrastingly, 30 per cent of voters in France plumped for Sarkozy in the first round of the election.

According to a voter, Sarkozy is a bitter but necessary pill for France’s problems. The voter, echoing the opinion of many, says that he doesn’t like Sarkozy. “He seems a bit of a bully, but he knows what will get France on its feet, if only the French will take the medicine and accept change, the dirtiest word in the language along with the one we took from them – entrepreneur.”

Many believe that France is suffering both economically and socially. In fact, ninety per cent of respondents believe this. Eighty-seven per cent believe that employment laws need to be relaxed. About 83 per cent demanded that taxes be lowered. 70 per cent felt that France can’t afford its present levels of spending. About 67 per cent believe that the number of immigrants coming into country should be increased as long as France selected those with capabilities and talents that can help the economy. More than half (55 per cent) of the respondents felt that France needs more freedom in its education system.

These figures do not necessarily make France inferior to Britain in terms of quality of living. “With four generations of my family living alongside me, we have encountered most things that the healthcare system and the education system have to offer, and we have never been disappointed in the quality of what we have received,” claims Trisha Mason, founder of a French property company. Mason has known life in France for more than two decades.

Neither do the figures mean that the quality of French property available is disappointing to those who seek out the best. For instance, a four-bedroom French property in Brittany, one of the most popular areas for British expats, is currently on the market at £255,102. The price is all inclusive. The property is a detached house in a small hamlet in the Blavet Valley. It is charmingly decorated in wood and limestone.

A French property with scope for development in a market town in the Languedoc region is on the market for those looking for a great deal with less money to spare. Francophiles markets the property at £101,320 which includes a small garden, an above-ground swimming pool, a laundry and a garage. Conveniently, the property is about 80 minutes away from Nîmes International Airport.

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The Sarkozy solution: A British view of France

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