Indeed, the UDF is the center of attention at both the Socialist Party and the UMP, and while two-thirds of the centrist Deputies have opted to align with the Sarkozy banner, securing reelection for some in the event of a victory, it may not be the same for voters who chose candidate Bayrou in the first round. The latest attack on the UDF leader, Gilles de Robien, the only UDF minister in the government, accused him of betrayal: “François Bayrou is abandoning ship and leaving his troops out in the open field. The fact that he is setting up his little shop will not prevent us from maintaining the UDF and its values. The UDF will exist and persist with all the high-quality men and women who make it up.” This was a clear reference to the new Democratic Party announced by François Bayrou which might well undergo an initial thinning after the positioning of some elected officials.
Certainly, the debate between the socialist candidate and the new third man in French politics did not lead to any revelations, and even less to a Social Democratic Party, but was it really intended to do so? On the left, there is satisfaction with this dialogue while on the right the organization of this debate is criticized as “contrary to institutions” according to Nicolas Sarkozy, and if according to pollsters, it did not allow Ségolène Royal to gain points in the polls, it was a first in the history of the French presidential elections.
In the field, the two protagonists continue their presidential journey from Corsica for Nicolas Sarkozy, who uses the opportunity to denounce “the cowards who wear hoods and plant bombs,” to Charlety where Ségolène Royal declares herself ready for the televised debate, calling it “a very important democratic moment for France.” Behind the scenes, Nicolas Sarkozy made his appearance at Bercy accompanied by a host of celebrities (Charlotte Rampling, Johnny Hallyday, Enrico Macias, Henri Salvador, Jean-Marie Bigard, Jean Reno, Faudel, Bernard Laporte…) – François Hollande lamenting the presence of major media bosses at the meeting – and Ségolène Royal gave a festive tone to May 1st with a concert featuring supporting artists (Bénabar, Cali, Michel Delpech, Yannick Noah, Miossec, Indochine, Renaud, Sanseverino, Leny Escudero, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Jeanne Moreau, Charles Berling).
So, it’s full steam ahead for both candidates in this final stretch that will lead to the finish line next Sunday at 8 PM, and it would be shrewd indeed to confidently predict the outcome of an election whose results are far from certain.
So, Ségolène Royal or Nicolas Sarkozy. It’s your choice. It’s your vote!
