They will soon be represented by a new French MP for the recently established Northern Europe constituency comprising the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states.

It is difficult to measure the exact number of French people living in the British capital. Over 120,000 are officially registered at the French consulates in London and Edinburgh, but not everybody decides to register and other London estimates put the French population at anywhere between 300,000 and 400,000 citizens.

London could hold the key to victory for any candidate as it has the largest concentration of French people across the whole constituency.

“All of the main parties have chosen candidates based in London,” says Philippe Marliere, professor of French and European politics at University College London.

“It’s going to be a London contest.”

Of the 20 official candidates for the seat, nine are based in London, and a further three live in other regions of the UK.

‘Key issue’

Although the French have long had a tradition of MPs from their overseas territories, this is the first time France will allow elected MPs for its expat population to have a seat in parliament.

The decision to create new constituencies for the French abroad was taken by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose government passed legislation in 2008 to give them the right to elect their own MPs.

  The French already have expat representatives in the Senate

Prof Marliere argues this can be seen a political move by the right to boost votes. Traditionally, the French abroad are less likely to support the left, even if the gap is narrowing in the UK.

Statistics from the French Ministry of the Interior show that the majority (53.05%) of overseas French citizens voted for right-wing candidate Mr Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential election.

But French people in the UK bucked this trend for the first time by voting for Socialist candidate Francois Hollande – though Mr Sarkozy won almost 52% of the second round vote in London.

Party politics aside, Prof Marliere says there are more and more French people living abroad. They can encounter problems with the education, pension, tax, social welfare and health systems in their host country, issues that an expat MP could help them with.

This is reflected in the official manifestos of the candidates, which also mention the challenges faced by French people abroad in business.

But Prof Marliere says that the “key issue” for the UK-based candidates is education, as French families are keen to send their children to French schools.

Providing a French education for their children can be costly for parents and French-speaking schools are oversubscribed.

Because of this, the French embassy, teachers and parents have been working to deal with the shortage of places, opening a new school in Kentish Town, London, last September, says Frederique Brisset, headmistress of L’Ecole des Petits and L’Ecole de Battersea.

“The choice of French schools is limited and there are fundamental differences between the French curriculum and the British curriculum.”

“French schools are not free,” says Prof Marliere. “Although the French state subsidises education by sending French teachers, the rest is not paid for by the state.”

This issue is not going away as within the UK, the make-up of the French community is changing. It is getting younger, and therefore more likely to have children.

In addition to those working in the financial sector and employed by international companies, the UK’s French population now includes “students, people in the service industries, public servants and young families”, says Prof Marliere.

French Londoners

Clelia-Elsa Froguel, a 26-year-old consultant born in France, is part of this younger generation.

She says the creation of an expat MP enables the voices of French emigrants to be heard in the French parliament.

Muriel Demarcus says that it is difficult to see how the French “MP for London” will change anything

“We are French Londoners, not expats,” she says. “The election of an MP for us is extremely important.”

While she can vote in the French presidential elections, up until now she did not vote in the French parliamentary elections because she felt she was “not represented.”

And David Medioni, a political journalist based in Paris, points out that French people in France view it as “normal” that expats should have some political say.

‘More and more British’

But others are less than enthusiastic about the idea, arguing that the MP will have little impact as the French abroad are not the government’s priority.

Prof Marliere says it is difficult to see how the French abroad can place demands on the government, as many do not pay taxes in France.

He asks: “Why would the government in France supplement our life choices?”

Key facts

• 11 expat MPs to be elected
• The other 10 constituencies include the US and Canada, South America, Spain and Portugal and East Africa
• Second round of voting will take place on 17 June
• Italy has had expat MPs since 2006
• French people in France vote on 10 June in the first round of the parliamentary elections

And Muriel Demarcus, a 39-year-old business owner, says the introduction of an expat French MP is unlikely to change anything.

“After four or five years you turn a corner and you become more and more British. I don’t think we are French any more.”

The successful candidate will sit in the French National Assembly in Paris and will have the same duties as any other French MP, representing a vast constituency stretching across 1.5m sq miles (4m sq km).

Prof Marliere expects that the elected representative will divide their time between the French capital and their home country, making frequent trips to other regions.

Although the figures are disputed, the London population has grown so big that it is sometimes referred to as France’s sixth city. Because of this, French people in other European countries, such as 22-year-old Maite Delvarre from Stockholm, say that the views of non-UK based constituents won’t be heard.

“The culture in the UK and the Nordic countries is not the same. That’s why we need somebody else here.”

Even for experts like Prof Marliere, the outcome of the election is difficult to predict.

“It’s totally new. Nobody knows what is going to happen.”

Father’s Day is right around the corner. You need an idea for a gift. Unfortunately, you’ve been thinking and thinking of ideas but can’t come up with one. This top ten list will help you come up with some ideas to show love and appreciation for that special guy on Father’s Day.

10. Solar Watch – These environmentally savvy watches rely upon the sun for power, rather than batteries. They come in great varieties that appeal to outdoor Dads and even the average business Dad. These watches do not require self winding or a lot of maintenance, which makes these watches a wonderfully modern accessory.

9. Robe – Robers are the ultimate gift for Dad. This gift says a “silent thank you for your hard work, now kick your feet up and relax.” The ultimate gift of appreciation for a hard working father.

8. BBQ Gift Set – For the Father that enjoys firing up the grill while camping, picnicking, or simply just outdoor grilling, this gift set would be extremely useful. Most BBQ Gift Sets are stainless steel, which means that it will last for years and years to come.

7. DVD Collection – Sometimes Dad’s just need time to catch up on their favorite Television Series or Movie Trilogies. Why not buy him his favorite DVD Collection. Websites like Amazon.com offer both new and used DVD Collections at unbeatable prices.

6. Workout DVD or Gym Membership – Has Dad been complaining about wanting to lose those extra pounds from the holiday dinners of the previous year? Well now is the time. Workout Collections such as P90X and Insanity offer great workouts to help Dad lose those extra pounds. Or you might want to consider membership to a gym such as Gold’s Gym or L.A. Fitness. Either one would put a smile on Dad’s face!

5. Noise Cancelling Head Phones – These headphones are great for Dad’s on the go. Noise Cancelling Head Phones a great to use on airplanes, which would appeal to father’s that travel often. 

4. Adventure Gift – For the Dad that loves to take risks and explore, and Adventure Gift might be up his alley. Websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial offer Kayaking, White River Rafting, Paint Balling, and more gifts for incredible deals. Most are even packages that include other activities as well.

3. Extended Charger – Extended chargers, such as Mophie Juice Pack, offer longer battery life for electronic devices. This is useful for Dad’s that just can’t seem to keep their phone charged throughout the day or drain their battery quickly with checking emails and using apps. 

2. Pen – Many people type and text. In some professions, writing still exists. Consider getting Dad a pen that he can keep at his office to get the job done.

1. Gift Card – The easy gift, when you just can’t make a decision or don’t have much time. Companies such as American Express and Visa offer gift cards that you can use at almost any retailer, which would be very convenient for both you and Dad!

Types of Bankruptcy

There are three types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13.

Chapter 7 – also known as straight bankruptcy.  This status basically removes all credit card debts and other bills like medical and utility bills. It is considered as the simplest bankruptcy form available.

Chapter 11 – bankruptcy form often available to business entities where financial reorganization and rehabilitation still allow companies to function as they go through debt repayment plans. It is also known as corporate bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 – also known as the wage earner bankruptcy. This is basically a repayment plan for mortgage and credit card debt available for those individuals with a regular source of income.

What happens when someone files for bankruptcy?

This means that is a person or company has been having a hard time paying monthly bills, they can have a repayment plan drafted with their creditors and the creditors will have to accept and follow this. This means the harassment through phone calls and letters will stop and the mortgage company will not foreclose their property. Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world. Basically one gets to keep his home, his car and his retirement funds. With diligent planning, one can get back on their feet within two years, yes even get back their former excellent credit rating.

What does one have to do to file bankruptcy?

A basic tip before filing for bankruptcy is consult with a lawyer. Sure, one can file on their own but this is not recommended. There have been changes in the law and some misinterpretations can be made by individuals not really familiar with it. Just gather copies of bills, mortgage statements and most recent tax returns. These will help the attorney have a basic idea of one’s financial condition and can plan where to go from there.

Only a year ago Hosni Mubarak was the undisputed King of Egypt. His was law and he made everything happen according to his own will. But yesterday, he was handed down a life sentence by the courts  for his role in the Egyptian revolution that toppled him. It is from this point that politics really get very dirty because the very Judges who have moved on to find considerable guilt on the former President were the same ones who used to prostrate before him for favors. He had always been a moderate voice in the Arab-West divide and America for a long time found a soft spot into the more hard-line political belts of the Arab world through Hosni Mubarak. He is 84 and does not have much on his hand to live for.

The verdict will please the Muslim Brotherhood who appear to be making in-roads into the Egyptian politics. Their strongman is competing with the last vestige of the Mubarak Regime in the second round election duel and it is almost obvious that the Muslim Brotherhood candidate will win, given the fact that they seem to command a comfortable majority in parliament already.

Infact, the harsh sentence appears to have been  aimed at defusing tensions ahead of a divisive second runoff in the presidential race although many see it as a move that will instead polarize the Egyptian society between those who still believe in Mubarak and those who want him placed away in the hottest part of Hell. With all that has already happened, Mubarak appears to have made history for himself as the first Arab leader to be tried in his own country after being overthrown by a people’s uprising. Gadaffi should have been the first, but he got quickly killed before the law could take course.

His sons Alaa and Gamal were acquitted of corruption, but his Interior Minister shared the same fate as Mubarak when he too was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Presiding Judge Rifaat said Mubarak and el-Adly did not act to stop the killings during the over two weeks of mass protests that saw more than  850 protesters killed by security forces in Cairo and other major cities in Egypt.

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 When it comes to the social media there are some really great things and then there are some really bad things. As a person who is always on Twitter and Facebook watching my favorite celebrities I see how good and bad things happen to them and us. Recently country artist Eric Church got grief for putting his foot in his mouth over some comments that he made about how hard it is to become a famous country star. The country artist who didn’t like it were quick to jump and make comments instead of letting Eric explain what he meant by his comments.
 People who are like me that found country artist like Eric Church are grateful for chances to go to concerts and see who is still coming up in the world of music. I went with my best friend several years ago to see Eric in concert at 8 Second Salon in Indianapolis and have loved him since seeing the concert. I am proud that I saw him in concert and try to brag about the experience of seeing an artist like him in concert. The concert was at a small venue and I felt close enough to see him.
 Now that the social media is more main stream then what it was then now if I go to another concert I will be tweeting about him and the experience to show how much I have enjoyed his shows in the past and would love to see him again.
 Other artists that I would love to hit the big main stream like Joey DeGraw, big brother to Gavin. I have seen Joey in concert and went home and have never forgotten the experience. For me and most people music is the opening to our hearts and I think that music gives meaning to things those experiences that we can’t forget.
 Twitter and Facebook are what currently rule the world because that is how people communicate and that’s so important to our everyday lives now days. Because so many people and companies are online with social media there is no way not to know what’s going on with your favorite people. I see what my favorite places to eat are offering now and then. I can also keep up with those family members who are out of state. 
 One of my other favorite things with the social media is watching my local food trucks to know where they are going to be.
 A problem with social media is when you make a comment and you can’t take it back before it hits the world media. It’s not just your friends or family on Facebook but when you make a comment on Twitter and the whole world sees it before it can be taken back.
 To everyone just remember when you are online remember other people see you and if you say the wrong thing make sure you don’t hit “return” before realizing what you have said. You can find me on Twitter @jstroudpainter and on Facebook /jstroudpainter.

The Democrats have convinced most Americans that the answer is GOVERNMENT REGULATION, but the problem is that GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS EXPENSIVE and IT DOES NOT WORK.  Our government is bigger now than it has ever been. The Labor Unions, especially SEIU have created a pension system that is unsustainable. Now, the Republicans are pushing Mitt Romney.

Let me tell you something. MITT ROMNEY IS JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE THAN PRESIDENT OBAMA!!! LOOK AT THIS: FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IS PRAISING ROMNEY AS A “STERLING BUSINESS LEADER”  ROMNEY CARE IS COSTING THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS PLENTY! WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA GOT THE IDEA FOR OBAMA CARE FROM?  YES, YOU GUESSED IT, MITT ROMNEY!

MITT ROMNEY is a PROGRESSIVE just like PRESIDENT OBAMA. If you are smart, you will write in Ron Paul on the ballot. Did you ever wonder why the Republicans did not push him more? He was against BIG GOVERNMENT.

This is just one man’s opinion, but I am an INDEPENDENT THINKER. See you at the polls.