Three socialist candidates are known for the nomination for the upcoming presidential elections: it will therefore be Ségolène Royal, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and Laurent Fabius who are at the starting line of the national race.
Following the withdrawal of Lionel Jospin, anticipated by some and hoped for by others, the Socialist Party and its members can already count on three contenders for a candidacy that has already generated much ink and numerous snapshots. Three anticipated or even hoped-for candidacies, but the question that party members are certainly asking themselves today is: Which one to choose to win the victory?
Jack Lang announced yesterday that he was withdrawing his candidacy, despite having the necessary endorsements to join the first three, but without announcing which candidate he would support. It seems he is the last one on the list, as François Hollande has clearly stated his position on not running if Ségolène Royal is in the race.
There will thus be at least three competing for the presidential seat, with an eye on an election that could be undecided until the end, as the French electorate is divided into two increasingly equal halves. Lionel Jospin, for his part, has already clearly indicated that he would not be one of the “fans” of a Ségolène Royal, who is leading in polls that everyone is justifiably learning to distrust.
Sarkozy, the man to (a)bat?
While the UMP has not officially chosen its candidate, each of the socialist nomination contenders has only one potential target in the person of Nicolas Sarkozy, who is mentioned repeatedly in all speeches. The one who is leading in the famous polls alongside Ségolène Royal said he regretted Lionel Jospin’s decision and saw it as a missed opportunity to debate with “a man of conviction who does politics with ideas I do not share, yet remains an honest and dignified man.”
A compliment that, if it did not go straight to the heart of the former Prime Minister, at least pleased the politician.
In short, the campaign seems to be well underway and the road will be short until November 16th, the date of a first round of “elephants” that might well give birth to a mouse.
