FYI
I am so happy for Sarko—this is wonderful for France. I am back to buying brie and champaqne again, it’s wonderful for me, too! Vive la France!
Euro-rats, scrambling.
Royal just isn’t in the same league as Sarko when it comes to political strategy. Sarko is a master Chess player. Sego, and all the other archaic Socialists can barely manage one move at a time.
This just in from BOZ at Politique Blog:
BAYROU DEAL FALLS THROUGH
Segolene Royal’s attempt to create a last-ditch PS-MoDem alliance ahead of this weekend’s legislative runoff has collapsed in ruins today due to the making of her own party and that of Nicolas Sarkozy.
First, Sarkozy ordered that the UMP candidate facing MoDem’s chief Francois Bayrou drop out of the race, leaving only a Socialist to challenge Bayrou in his legislative district.
Bayrou later said that he did not return Royal’s call, leaving the Socialist Party itself to clarify its position this evening, saying that all PS voters should support Socialist candidates in the runoff, and if not possible, to favor pluralism (not UMP and allies).
The real interesting thing will be to see how Royal comes out of this somewhat disastrous political mishap. By being decisively rejected by fellow party members, it could leave her damaged in a bid to lead the party after Francois Hollande steps down. On the other hand, if the Socialist Party does badly (remember, this is all relative) this coming weekend, she could once again appear to have been handicapped by feuding within her own party hierarchy, which could leave PS members slightly more sympathetic. Either way, the only winner in all of this is President Sarkozy.
Hint: Burn all the cars. That will stop them.
Wow. Seems that Socialism thingy ain't doin' so hot over there.