It is true that disappointments give one’s skin the thickness of that of an elephant, but one did not expect measured and cautious behavior despite the good result of this first round of the 2012 Presidential election. It is true that all the polls indicated the same, with François Hollande leading in the first round.
But one thing are the forecasts, another are the results. That being said, the confirmation of the socialist candidate’s assertion against the outgoing president can only encourage the hopes of the socialists to see, after the 1981 election, their candidate as the future President of the Republic.
Another fifteen days of waiting and we will know if dreams can become reality.
We asked Patrick Allemand, first secretary of the Socialist Federation of Alpes-Maritimes, for a hot take: “I am very satisfied with the score which confirms the forecasts that positioned our candidate as the most voted in this first round. I am dealing with Nicolas Sarkozy, who is in an uncomfortable position, let’s not forget that his result is a sanction vote from the electorate for his policy record.
Now François Hollande and the socialists must rally voters around the left’s program. We will need to appeal to all republican voters, going beyond all ideological divisions.
But tonight’s result is very important to create momentum around François Hollande and go all the way to win on May 6th.”
Comments from Xavier Garcia, spokesperson for PS 06: “Let’s be clear, Nicolas Sarkozy’s result is disastrous because an incumbent president always has an advantage over his competitors.
His project is none other than his record made worse, it is natural that the voters sanctioned him.
On the other hand, François Hollande’s result is better than we could have hoped, he is at the upper end of the forecast range.
I am also pleased with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s result, even if to be honest it was not a surprise to me, when we really listened to what people were telling us on the street.
However, the final victory, that alone counts, and it is far from guaranteed, we must not drop the ball during these next 15 days and continue our campaign. Yes, we are optimistic but we should not think we already have victory in the bag.”
