Politics in France

Since the French revolution in 1789 and the establishment of a democratic government in 1792 (The First Republic) and the end of the reign of the kings and queens in France, there has always been a Parliament of some sort in France. Despite the dark days of the Second World war and the infamous Vichy government, were the influence of Hitler and nazi occupation clouded many a polictician. French politics tend to swing from one side to the other at ever election, sometimes it's a moderate swing and every now and then a major swap. Politics are very emotional, you still hear words such as Communism, Trotski and Nationalism.
De Gaule and Mitterand were probably the most famous and influencial leaders of the policial scene. Although both of these Presidents are no longer, people tend to be; conservator and Gauliste or socialiste and Mitterandist.

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The principle political parties of France

Le Parti Socialiste	Le PS, socialist party.
U.M.P	Union pour un movement populaire, conservator party based on Gauliste ideas.
UDF	Union pour la démocracie Français, center, liberal party
Les Verts	The Green party, mainly left wing, but there are some breakaway parties.
M.P.F	Mouvement pour la France , right wing conservators
P.C.F.	Parti communiste français, communiste party
L.C.R.	LCR, Ligue communiste revolutionnaire
CPNT	Chasse Pêache Nature Traditions, pro hunting, fishing and traidtions.

Major trade unions

CGT	C.G.T, founded in 1985, (but they use Microsoft products)., left wing trade union
FO	Force Ouvrire, left wing trade union

Also... The regions of France, Learn to speak French