Stephen Lendman

Elections in America, France, throughout Europe and most other countries prove rule of the people is pure fantasy.

Powerful interests run things, choosing candidates for high office serving them at the expense of ordinary people.

Elections are mostly theater, creating the illusion of democratic governance. None exists in Western countries and most elsewhere.

Viva la dirty business as usual is what governance in France and most other countries is all about, not liberte, egalite, fraternite, or governance of, by and for the people equitably.

Anti-establishment candidate Le Pen was portrayed as too extremist to trust. Longtime insider Macron represents capital’s divine right to rule. The sound of popping champagne corks Sunday night signified French oligarchs celebrating their triumph.

Neither candidate was a popular favorite. In round one voting, over three-fourths of French voters rejected Macron, nearly 80% against Le Pen.

Though Macron won overwhelmingly Sunday with a 66% majority, much of his support came from anti-Le Pen voters, wanting her kept from triumphing, not favoring him or what he represents.

Around 12 million registered voters abstained. Another four million cast blank ballots, rejecting both candidates.

Macron’s triumph assures continued police state-enforced neoliberal harshness, France remaining in lockstep with US imperial interests, its EU and NATO membership intact for now. On shaky ground, perhaps not forever.

Addressing supporters Sunday night, Le Pen said “(t)he French people have chosen a new president of the republic and voted for continuity.”

She and her allies intend being “the leading force for opposition to the new president’s program. The forces that have supported Macron have discredited themselves and cannot claim to represent a force that could create an alternative government, or even a political opposition.”

She pledged to form a “number one opposition force,” urged “(a)ll patriots to join us” in a new movement against globalists.

Trump tweeted: “Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!”

White House press secretary Sean Spicer expressed the same sentiment. So did European officials, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel shamefully tweeting: “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite! France chose that today.”

French and other Western monied interests triumphed on Sunday. Equitable rule of the people suffered another body blow.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.