[Newsbot]

<strong>Filibuster Cartoon</strong>
<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="http://www.filibustercartoons.com/archive.php?id=20070124" target="_blank">Meddling Frenchies</a> (click to view)
<strong>Date: </strong> January 24, 2007

Segolene Royal, the French Socialist Party\'s candidate for president, has recently got into some hot water in Canada over her apparent \"meddling\" in our politics. <br> <br>This week in Paris she met with Andre Boisclair, leader of Quebec\'s separatist party, the Parti Quebecois. In the ensuring press conference, the two called attention to their various shared beliefs, one of which, according to Ms. Royal, is a common desire for the \"sovereignty of Quebec.\" Prime Minister Harper then fired off a letter to her, denouncing her \"interference\" in the separation debate. <br> <br>Separatist Quebecers often look to France as a country that will support and encourage their nationalist ambitions out of Francaphone solidarity. And different French governments have different attitudes on the matter. Most infamous was Charles De Gaulle, who came to Quebec in 1967 and declared \"vive le Quebec libre\" (\"long live a free Quebec\"). That set us back a few years.

[fire_i]

Late response. Bah!

Royal can say whatever she wants. Back in 1995 Bill Clinton openly called for an united Canada while the referendum was going on and no one said he was meddling with things that didn't regard him. If he could comment, then she can, even if she appears to have the opposed view (although she clarified or retracted large chunks of what she said later on, so who knows) - and after all, her declarations will have no impact whatsoever on either the separatist or federalist movements, only Royal herself will see any difference (and it seems, consequences).

[lonewolf23k]

The french can say whatever they want about Quebec's independance.. But don't you DARE go and talk to them about the Independance of Corsica...

Classic french double-standards.