This is the Le Palais de l'Élysée, the residence of the presidents of France. Quite an impressive pile, isn't it? More so than the White House, although I'll give you the latter's better lawns.
The Élysée palace is currently -- and temporarily -- occupied by one François Hollande, the most unpopular French president of modern times. But all that could change with the next presidential election, due in 1917. Walt is sending a tape measure (so she can measure windows for new drapes) to Marine Le Pen, leader of France's rightist Front National (= National Front) party.
Supporters of the FN were mightily encouraged this weekend, when the party won its first two seats in the French Senate, in what Mme Le Pen described as a "historic victory... beyond what we hoped for."
Half of the Senate's seats are elected by regional officials across the country every three years. Final results today are expected to confirm control of the Senate passing to conservative parties such as the UMP and UDI, and the ultra-conservative Front National. They are expected to share a majority of 10 or 20 seats in the 348-seat chamber.
The win comes on the heels of a strong showing by the FN and other Eurosceptic and right-wing parties in May's elections to the European Parliament.
Stéphane Ravier, one of the two newly-elected FN senators exulted, "There is only one door left for us to push and it is that of the Élysée." Vive le Front!
Further reading on WWW: "The next president of France? Could be!"
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