Very interesting, indeed.
Some nations (like mine,Belgium) have very much lost a sense of nationalism, to be replaced by regionalism. I don't share this feeling to belong to an area as my father is french-speaking, my mother is english-speaking and I live in the flemish-speaking region. I'm not uncofortable as my knowledge of all the languages is sufficient to feel anywhere at ease, within those cultures. But in France, there is still a stronger nationalist feeling. It depends from country to country.

One of the amazing paradoxes of France's latest first round was that judge Alphen who, for years tried to prosecute the President, for irregularities committed by the Paris town hall when Chirac was the mayor, failed to do so and in disgust, quit his job several months ago and joined a socialist candidate (Chevènement) who lost. Now, the former judge is calling to vote for Chirac.

Raoul