Another is that the left will sweep the board, with the Socialists' Lionel Jospin (who became prime minister after Mr Chirac foolishly called an early parliamentary election in 1997) winning the presidential race.
"Avatar" is for many the favorite to sweep the board at the Oscars this year: The film has been nominated for nine awards (the same number as "The Hurt Locker") and pundits are expecting the Academy to reward Cameron's high-tech efforts.