This has been heavily debated here in France, though, on average, people do lean pretty far to the left. As far as the implications of this tax go, however, the whole thing might not be quite as crass at it seems at first glance; from what I understand, very few people in France actually qualify for that tax-bracket. Those that do, it could be argued, have enough money to find the loopholes in the legislation -- After talking to some folks here about the matter I get the feeling that Hollande's plan to institute this tax is largely a symbolic gesture to please his base. It seems to me that this 75% tax on the rich may have been merely one of those bold pre-election promises that help contrast the candidate on the left from the one on the right. When it comes time to implement those changes, things often don't turn out the way they were planned (or presented?) at the outset. Just think of all the things Obama promised during his campaign
just my two cents.