The left is in progress in Angers and new faces could emerge with the 2nd ballot

In the four constituencies of Angers, the first ballot of the legislative elections saw a increase of the left and some difficult conditions during the second ballot for some leaving candidates. In Angers town 1, the socialist Luc Belot is ahead (41%) the Ump leaving member of Parliament (Mp), Paul Jeanneteau (34%). The stock of supporters look more important for Mr Belot than for Mr Jeanneteau. That constituency was during a long time acquired by Roselyne Bachelot, former minister of health.

In Angers town 2, the leaving Mp, Marc Goua, should be reelected. He missed the reelection in the first ballot with a very narrow margin and was above the 50% in Angers poll stations. The second ballot should be without surprise. In Angers town 6, the reelection of the leaving Mp, Hervé de Charette, former foreing minister, is not already won. His challenger, Serge Bardy is not very far from the former minister and could benefit of a better transfer of voices, even from the right electorate. In Angers Mr Bardy is ahead.

In Angers town 7, the situation of the leaving candidate, Marc Laffineur, himself minister till the late presidential elections, is not sure at all. Mr Laffineur could be defeated by his challenger Sylvia Camara-Tombini. In Angers Mrs Camara-Tombini reaches 45% and Mr Laffineur 28%. So a new generation and a new balance right-left could emerge in Angers.

Yoga : now an Angers way of training in English

Silently and relaxed, English is widening its presence in Angers. After the numerous ads visible in the city front stores, the courses about English dedicated to the youngest Angevins, the English-Language library in Angers, the tea room My Favourite Place and more recently, even it is not written in English, the petition for the return of the UK jewels crown to Angers, another way of learning English has taken en new way : yoga.

A "Yoga classe in English" is now accessible in the La Madeleine district allowing people, not only to "A mindfulness approach developing calm, clarity and a sensitivity to the responses of the body and the breath", but also to a better understanding of English through informal talks : almost a subliminal way of training in English. The classes of yoga are handed out by Celeste, a certified yoga teacher by the British Wheel of Yoga.

If Celest has imported English spoken yoga in Angers, a former Angers inhabitant learnt discoverd yoga in US where she decided do settle there for almost twenty years. It is not said yoga is taught in French...

Contradictions of French law regarding foreign people visible in Angers

Monplaisir District (Credit : Wikipedia)

Sometimes, French laws look to contredict themselves in the field of integration of foreign people. Recently in Angers, the situation of a young Armenian boy, Boris, legitimately touched its neighbours and friends. At school in Henri Dunant, an Angers lycée which teaches technical education to people attracted by manual job, Boris is under a threat of expulsion from France, only for administrative reasons. The young man, who learns boilermaking, and is near to get a degreee in that field, has no trouble with the police and demonstrated his desire to settle in France.

A few hundreds meters from Henri Dunant, a father of four chidren, is accused to have killed his wife with weapon with a blade. That man, native from Kosovo, had accused his wife to have an extra-marital relationship. He recognized he killed her. He and his family had asked asylum in France.

A demonstration in Angers on June 8th

So that man will stay in France for trial and in jail during years. How will react the children he killed the mother? Will he be recognized by these he will not see before years? Fortunately, the French state authority in Angers granted to Boris to extend his staying in France, but only on a temporary basis. But the threat still exists he could have to leave the country for a another one, more hospitable while the father accused of murder, if sentenced, will still be there.

The Angers city hall website attemps to stimulate people to vote in spite of an archaic system

On June 10th and 17th, Angers inhabitants, and French, will have to vote in the two ballots of the legislative polls. Angers city hall explained to inhabitants on its website how to vote in spite of their absence. The problem is, even if a person has found another one and will vote thanks to that proxy voting, for the person depositary of the proxy voting, things are quite complicated. And that may discourage voters to carry out their right. So the abstention could be important for the two ballots.


In fact, the person who will vote on behalf another one has to go in the same poll station! For example, if a Angers inhabitants has no possibility to vote because he is in holiday or outside for professionnal reason, he will have to find out another elector who is available to go to the polling station where the first person is registered... And that, the Angers city website doesn't explain it.

These modalities of vote look quite behind time with the arrival of internet which allows, wherever a person is, to realize financial operations on one's bank accounts. It's even possible now to pay one's taxes by internet in spite the fact that, in France, there is still no tax withholding like in the United Kingdom. The efforts of the Angers city to stimulate the civic spirit could run up against the fact that the French material modality of vote are archaic.

Haendel's music : England in Madeleine church

The Madeleine church hosted on June 6th the Plantagent choir which performed The Messiah, from Haendel. The audience, as attentive as during a religious service got what it was looking for : an immersion in a solemn, reverential and enchanting atmosphere.


Placed in the transept, under the highest vaults of the church, the choir, the orhestra and the solists got there the best echo to their performance emphasizing the polyphonic caracteristics of the Haendel's masterwork. The only wrong note was the unpredictable absence of the bass.


The performance was maybe an unvoluntarily tribute to the Elizabeth II jubilee with Angers choirs and orchestra bearing the name of the royal Anjou dynasty of England. Haendel was himsel an English copposer (born in Germany) who settled in London in 1712.


As darkness invaded the Madeleine church, the Haendel's Messiah,one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music, with its famous Hallelujah, reigned over the Angers public.

Angers castle : a new royal home succeeds to itself

The royal home of Angers castle, destroyed by a fire three years ago, has risen from the ashes. On January 10 2009, many Angers inhabitants saw, powerless and incredulous, the fire ate up the roof, the framework as well as the ceilings and the floors of that historic building located at the core of the castle, itself the main Angers monument. In that days of 2009, dozens of firefighters pulled manually their pipes in the fortress while a thick grey smoke escaped from the buildings, mesmerising car drivers around.

Credit Pictures Wikipedia

On the following morning, the royal home displayed a pure desolation : the walls of the building were grey, their windows opening on dark vacuum and, all around, junks on a surface empty without any plants or trees. Hopefully, seven ancient tapestries were withdrawn from the scene. Questionned about his feelings, the mayor of that period said "it was frightening because a part of Angers history had vanished in smokes".

Almost three years later, the royal logis opened its doors to visitors. The works of local companies has re-done the building completely. Angers companies gathered 300 000 € and inhabitants 30 000 €. The costs of the works were 7 millions €. And the place, which belongs to the state and not to the city, will again host visitors from next summer.

Angers down town is recovering from the tramway line works

Ralliement square (Credit Picture Angers city)

Sometimes, future is different of what is foresaw. Since the beginning of the works on the Angers first tramway line in march 2008, it was said that the stores located in down town would not survive to the difficulties for pedestrians or drivers to come, to walk or to park one's car during the works. On the opposite way, the same stores of down town had feared that the opening of L'Atoll, the giant commercial park, near Angers, would definitively ruin their prospects of good turnover.

But, first, the pedestrians who left down town Angers for shopping between march 2008 and june 2011, came back. According to a survey of the Maine et Loire Chamber of Commerce and Industry realized last November, "Even if a decrease of the number of passers-by is noticed between 2009 and 2010, the flow increased again and even reached a peak with 311 823 daily transits". More : the flow of pedestrians is more important in some streets than it was before the trolley, that's particularly true in Roë street. And the passers-by are more numerous in the bottom of the left bank than they were formerly.


On the opposite, it was widely predicted, even by the stores owners of Angers down town, that L'Atoll would hurt their turnover. According to some observers, the commercial park recorded a good affluence on the first weeks. But recently, the activity would have slowed down. One element could explain that trend (even if the management of L'Atoll foresees 6 millions visitors while only 3 were predicted) : the offer of products and services which is not very different of what it was before L'Atoll because many stores already in Angers joined the commercial complex.

A second national brand asks for an opening of stores on Sundays

As it was predictable, the polemical issue regarding the opening of stores on Sundays is resurfacing. According a report published by an Angers web media, one of the national brand present in the new commercial park of Angers, L'Atoll, the house furnishings. But, even if the first two months are quite satisfactory, "what we would like now, is to open all Sundays", says the manager of the But Angers store. 

The outcome is not surprising. All the stores which came to L'Atoll have now to make beneficial their investment in the place. A first assessment of the two first months of running, the opinions would be rather mitigated. All the commercial surfaces are not rented. About 7 000 m2 are always free on 71 000 m2 available for stores : 10%. Moreover, the wish to attract more passers-by stimulate the storekeepers of L'Atoll to wish new brands in the field of culture and food superstore. What could make the L'Atoll equivalent to a new district of Angers. 

So, if the complex reaches its goal to get such new stores, the pressure in favor of the opening of the stores of L'Atoll on Sundays will increase. Culture (cinemas, bookstores) is a field in which people are eager to purchase on weekends. In Angers medias, many inhabitants and lobbies got indignant about the idea of working on Sundays after a superstores (Leclerc) decided to open on Sundays mornings. An idea it gave up in the first weeks of 2012.

The discount day : the thermometer of the recovery of Angers down town

The Angers discount day will take place on July 7th. One of the most important event for the animation of Angers down town, interrupted in 2010 because of the works on the trolley line, was close to be cancelled in 2011. Finally, the attractivity of the event, both for the customers and the storekeepers, has overcome the disagreements between town hall and the organizers. In 2012, the discount day could be a success because it joins the worryings of many Angers households, eager to buy items at unbeatable prices.

Generally, these can be got in stores and stands in the crowded streets. But the Angers discount day has another interest. The core of the city is that day absolutely full of people. The streets are closed to traffic and are places to talk and to do shopping. The stores themselves take benefit of this day to enlarge their surface on the pavements.


After difficult years because of the trolley works, Angers down town is now plagued with boards "for sale" ou "to rent". So the discount day is important to give confidence to all inhabitants and authorities that the heart of Angers is still alive.

The tragic fate of Edward Plantagenet touches the heart of Les Accroches-Coeurs 2012

The 2012 of Les Accroches-Coeurs due to take place in Angers on September 7, 8 and 9 will perfectly match to one of the themes recently disclosed by its organizers. The execution of Edward Plantagenet, last pretender of an Anjou dynasty which gave 14 kings to England between 1154 and 1485 or 331 years, was really an unfair and horrible murder. Edward was the son of Georges Plantagenet who was accused of plot against his own brother, the king Edward IV, during the English civil war known as the War of roses. 

It was the only "crime" of Edward Plantagenet, born in 1475, and jailed in the dark London tower at the age of 10... The young boy spent his existence in that jail till 1499, year of his execution by order of the new king Henry VII. Probably isolated from the rest of the world, it is difficult to imagine it would have been able to devise and implement a plot against the King... 

The organizers of Les Accroches-Coeurs have maybe considered the tragedy of such a fate and decided to use it as a theme of their event. The question has probably, with centuries, lost all its affective dimension but the nature of that crime is clearly political. In that way, the fate of Edward Plantagenet is unfortunately contemporary. Regarding the jewels of the British crown, all are posterior to the death of Edward. But a petition of Facebook already gathered 200 signatories...

New financial constraints lead to new choices in Angers transportation policy

The financial constraints are starting to influence the strategic choices of Angers city. That one, which is at the same time the core and the wealthiest member of Angers Loire Métropole, buried, at least for years, the project of a South ring road during the last meeting of its municipal council on May 30th. According to Frédéric Beatse, the mayor of Angers, the [others cities of Alm], having to be associated to the project "will not be able to finance a ring road and the second trolley line at the same time" (estimated cost : 350
millions €). 

The choice, approved according different ways by the town councillors of the majority and the minority, could be implemented to other projects, above all the play swimming pool of the Les Hauts de Saint-Aubin disctrict and even to the New banks of Maine. But such financial constraints constitute also an opportunity for Mr Béatse to involve the town towards alternative transport ways, less individuals, less polluting and less costly in fossile energy. He plans to reduce the max speed from 70 to 50 km/h along the Maine express way and to lauch as soon as possible the surveys about the second trolley line and even an extension of the first line towards the South. 

During the last decades, many projects have been dedicated to ease the car traffic in Angers (the late is the doubling of the bridge over the Loire at the South of Angers). Visibly the policy has changed : the desire is to push back cars outside of town while at the same time to promote the no polluting and the collective ways of transport. So the burying of the ring road could be a beginning of a reapprisal.

The inaugural flight London-Angers points out the need of a tourism offer for English passengers

The aerial link between Angers and London opened on Tuesday with the landing at the airport of Marcé of an Embraer. Thirty three passengers were on board while the capacity of the aircraft reaches the double. If every responsible in Angers wishes the success of the line, this one is not yet achieved. And, in the next departure to London, only six passengers were on board... 

Credit Picture BA CityFlyer

But, that inauguration day brought some useful informations to the development of the line. First, at the arrival at Angers Marcé, if the English travellers were warmly welcomed, an essential element lacked : a connection by bus to Angers! "Elementary!", would have said Sherlock Holmes. Another element, basic to the understanding of the travellers, are the prices. After an experience on the website, the official price, 78 euros, is not always the one which has to be paid. 

Angers Loire Metropole thinks the London Olympic Games could be helpful. If that is possible, the event will not last after July, so Angers city will be advised to build an offer larger than the flight prices to attract English tourists. The absence of a bus between Angers and Marcé is an indication of what is to devise... The running of the new line is planned for six month. There is no time to waste. And "Time is money"

Michael Lonsdale, an English-French actor in Angers cathedral

The Angers cathedral hosts on May 31st a famous English-French artist, Michael Lonsdale. While usually, the christian name of Mr Lonsdale is written under the English orthograph, without the dieresis on the e of Michael because its the wish of the actor. Michael Lonsdale is born from a French mother and an English officer. Soon after his birth, Michael Lonsdale lived in the Channel island of Guernsey, then in London. 


While he performed in more than a hundred movies, as much as plays, Lonsdale is bilingual and is in demand for English speaking and French productions. He is best known in the first for his parts as the villainous Sir Hugo Drax in the 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, the astute French detective Lebel in The Day of the Jackal, and M. Dupont d'Ivry in the James Ivory best director of Englands lifle, The Remains of the Day.

On the 31srt, he will be the reciter of the Honeggers' oratorio, King David with the choir of Saint-Marc (who sang in the movie The Choirists). Michael Lonsdale loves as well English and French. Interwieved on France-Culture a few months ago, he said that English was a soft language with long vowels he was delighted with.

The Solidarity Day, not yet solid in Angers

Under a sunny weather, many Angers inhabitants prefered Monday to stay home, for gardening or walk throughout the green landscapes of the surroundings cooled by the Maine. That would not be surprising if that day, the Pentecost, was in fact dedicated in 2004 to finance the solidarity between French. That initiative was triggered by a tragic event : the death of about 15 000 elder persons in France during the 2003 heatwave.

Apparently, Angers inhabitants don't have that memory. In Angers down town, except the Nouvelles-Galeries, Tati and the Fnac, no chains were opened. In the retail stores, no consistency was visible : some garment stores were running, others not. And all the administrations, the town hall ou public services like the post office were closed. So most of the companies subjected to the special tax allowing to finance that specific solidarity toward elder persons will have to foot the bill without any counterparts in terms of work by their employees.

Angers, which proclaims its solidarity toward many people and many causes, as many other French cities, even to set up soon a "city of solidarity" in 2013, should submit itself in a self-ewamination. it would not be suprisinf that, once opened, the city of solidarity is closed for the Solidarity day.

The disapperance of Technicolor predicts a grey future for the Angers industry

If the future of open air public events is, with the success of "All Angers is moving", rather sunny along the Maine banks, the destiny of the town's industry could be a little bit less bright. Technicolor, formerly Thomson, which arrived in Angers in the 50's and employed till 3 000 persons, declared itself on Friday in voluntary liquidation. The factory will run till September but, already, the salaries of May would not have been paid to the last 350 employees and Technicolor Angers is unable to pay its bills. So, if any solution is found, the factory will soon only be part of the industrial history of the city. 

The case of Technicolor runs of course beyond the mission of the city council but this one should take care of the situation of "its" factories because these still give jobs to many of Angers inhabitants. A few months ago, when he took office, the new mayor of Angers, Frédéric Beatse, said he would follow closely the competitiveness of the local private sector. But that wish is not yet visible. If, at the national level, the new government appointed a minister in charge of economic recovery, in Angers, nobody looks in charge of industry (only a deputy mayor is in charge of commerce and craft indutry). There is still an initiative to be passed. 

If Technicolor disappears, the perimeter of the factory could be used for real estate projects, but not in a next future. In Angers, the real estate economy is not booming anymore. About a thousand homes would be currently available for sale or rent. And no purchasers are in sight... Many projects regarding the embellishment of the city or the conviviality between its inhabitants are underway (new banks for the Maine, a giant swimming pool or a center for solidarity). These could fuel much expenses than revenues and have to be financed. That will not be possible if the local economy is in decline. Angers should move in that field too.

The availability of the Apple vice-president to the next Angers municipal elections reported

According to some informations published a few months ago by Angers Daily News, the preparatives of the municipal elections of 2014 were already on way. It was said that the left majority of town council was, at that time, looking to enlarge the list of its candidates in the next local ballots to new personalities. A news published that week by many French medias could confirm that perspective because they announced that Pascal Cagni, present vice-president of Apple for Europe, Middle East and Africa, would have resigned of his responsabilities in the Californian company. 

The economic magazine Challenges, and others medias, indicates that Mr Cagni, who joined Apple in 2000, "could involve himself in policy", the French media adding that "in 2002, the Apple France manager had unveiled his desire of a citizen involment". The Huffington Post, which made comments about his resignation from Apple, asks " did he choose to take benefit of his fame in order to attempt a completely different bet : policy, and, why not in Angers, his beloved city, at the next municipal elections?". Such an ally would be an important asset for the team candidate to Angers city council. 

Mr Cagni, who has considerably increased the sales of Apple in its perimeter, would certainly help Angers to reach a better aknowledgment at European, and maybe, American scale. That would coincide with the policy launched since a year in Angers in favor of stronger links with the English speaking countries. During the last week, Frédéric Beatse, welcoming pupils of an Austin primary school disclosed that one of its ambitions was to work about the acquisition, by Angers pupils, of better skills in foreign languages.

A mysterious jewels claim on the official Angers city website

Is Angers renewing with its English past? A very unusual page was published on Friday on the official website of Angers city. A petition demanding the return of the jewels of the British crown in compensation of an horrible crime of state. In 1499, Henry VII Tudor, new king of England, ordered the beheading of Edwuard Plantagenet, the last descendant of the Anjou male line who had reigned on England since 1154, a kingdom Anjou was part. 

Imprisoned at the age of 10, Edward was the last legitimate heir of the English crown and murdered for that reason. The authors of the petition consider themselves as the legitimate heir of Edouard Plantagenet and claim, because of the murder of their "ancestor", a right to a compensation. It is doubtful the British government will accept the demand. So what could be the real aim of such an idea? 

Since a few months, Angers city attempts to create links with the English speaking countries through music and education with the Texas city of Austin and the Saint-Edward University, but also through the next opening of an aerial line between Angers and London. The idea about the return of the jewels of the crown could stimulate a buzz about the city, which tries to enhance its tourisme business. The fame of the city could be more "gliterring".

Angers politicians bid over Technicolor

Technicolor, already threatened of closing, didn't deserve such a pityfull show. While alarming indications come from various sides about the next end of the factory tv sets, politicians of all sides are showing up of letters warning government to act immediately. It's high time!

Credit picture Angers city

A few days ago, a Maine et Loire member of Parliament, Jean-Charles Taugourdeau - whose constituency does not include the factory - wrote a letter to the new minister in charge of industrial recovery. His initiative gave ideas to others who decided to imitate him. The president of Angers Loire Métropole and the Angers mayor, Jean-Claude Antonini and Frederic Beatse recently warned the government about the loss of an industrial asset for their province. That has infuriated the Conseil général president, Christophe Béchu, who bemoaned the fact that he had not been associated to the initiative. 

Hopefully, the adressee of these letters is not campaigning for reelection in the june legilative ballots. So these messages of distress could be read. While the first run of the elections is planned within 15 days, these kind of political bids are surely not due to chance. It's a sad consolation for the employees to see that their fate is helpful for politicians.

For the Angers riverside residents : "the movement it's right now"

If the weather is clement on Sunday, the 3rd edition of the event "All Angers moves" could open to sportsmen, sportwomen and families the core of Angers city and, of course, the "banks" of the Maine river. By giving back that part of the town till now totally dedicated to the car traffic, this popular gathering is designed to make non reversible the New banks project in the minds of Angers inhabitants whatever be its cost.

Credit picture Angers city

That could not be impossible. Public has started to realize that the Maine river and its banks were assets in the development of tourism as well as consistency and cohesion of their city. The two banks of that one were till now more separated from each other by the express way than by the river (in fact, once in the express way, the pedestrians can't see the river). Recently a boat race took place on the Maine what demonstrates that, few by few, the river is catching the interest of the riverside resident.


With "All Angers moves", the people should also realize that the face of their city is completely different when activity is organized on Sundays compared to the rest of the year when streets, squares and gardens are deserted and when shops have their iron curtains lowered. So, it could be very useful and profitable that, on such an aspect Angers could move in its mind till now officialy opposed to the openings of stores during Sundays. In the end, it will not have escaped to people that urban "trail" is an English word...

The legislative ballots in Angers scarcely evoke the real economic difficulties to produce locally

Is the deindustrialization an important and, at least, a valuable issue for the candidates to the French national assembly? It's not sure. While all the notice boards displaying the candidates to the next ballot are visible in numerous places in Angers, the danger of death hanging over Technicolor, the manufacture of tv decoder, didn't catch the attention of the candidates. Except one!Jean-Charles Taugourdeau, himself a former businessman, candidate to his own succession, launched an appeal to the new minister in charge of the industrial recovery. 

The aim of his reasoning is simple : to win time because the managers of the Technicolor groupe plan to sell the Angers factory soon. But, the congressman seems to be naive because he says that this supplementary time would be sufficient "to transform the workshops toward outputs with high value-added using the know-how of the employees". The problem is not the ability of the employees but the costs of their work, i.e. the social and fiscal taxes the companies have to pay which make the outputs less competitive. 

Never-theless, such an appel has at least the interest to put the minister's finger on the real difficulty of its task. But, it looks a little bit naive, or prepos-terous, to believe the manufacture of high value-added outputs will stay in Angers and the low value-added products will be manufactured in the emerging countries because it's precisely on the first items that the difference of costs is important.