This issue includes:
Brexit and beyond: The
challenges for higher edu-
cation within the UK
OPINION: Voting for La-
bour is voting for change
A weekly political newsletter for pragmatic progressives
Issue #2, 22 nd April 2017
French Presidential election 2017:
The polls opened and offered little
change
The French people’s desire for change will not be
realised under the leadership of either candidate
By Matthew Clifton
This week in the Naturally Unnatural newsletter, we have
a brief analysis on the election, no not the UK’s general
election but the French presidential election. Since the
article was written, Marine Le Pen has stepped down as
her role as leader of the National Front stating she want-
ed to run from are more partisan perspective. We also
follow the Conservative government’s lacklustre ability to
tackle environmental issues, the public’s lack of trust in
journalism, the challenges facing higher education post-
Brexit and the one and only pure opinion-based article.
Beyond this, there will be greater focus on the UK general
election, bringing you as much information as possible.
All articles are original and property of Naturally Unnatural Ltd
date fails to get over 50% of the votes
on 21% all but confirming that they would
after the first round, the top two face each face each other in round 2.
The first round of the French election
other in a second round two weeks later.
The results followed the exit poll, with it
took place last Sunday that saw Em-
predicting the outcome almost perfectly.
manuel Macron, Marine Le Pen, Fran- The polls opened with
From a 78% first round turnout, 97.43% of
cois Filon, and Jean-Luc Melenchon go
little
surprises
the votes were valid. The 4 leading candi-
into the election as the four clear fa-
dates offered little surprises, with Macron
vourites to go through to the next round There were 11 election candidates over-
on top with 23.86% of the votes, Le Pen
with Macron and Le Pen as favourites
all but only the 4 mentioned above had a following in 21.43%, Francois Fillon gain-
to go through to round 2. Benoit Hamon realistic chance of progressing through
ing 19.94% of the votes and the surprise
has suffered after the Socialist Party’s the next round. As it begun, the latest
candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon closely
significant decrease in support due to polls had Macron and Le Pen ahead of the following with 19.6.2% of the votes. The
turnout was slightly less than in previous
Francois Hollande’s weak tenure as
pack. There was much anticipation be-
elections with 79.48(2012) and 83.77
president.
cause both favourites weren’t members
(2008) per cent.
of France’s two largest parties, The Re-
Briefly, the President of the French Re-
public candidates face a two-round elec- publicans and the Socialist Party and the Continued on page 2...
exit poll has Macron on 23% and Le Pen
tion to secure a 5-year term. If a candi-
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