The next Presidential election in France is due to be held in May 2012, i.e. next year, but already today there is a great deal of manoeuvering.
Without in any way wishing to take sides, it is interesting to highlight why there is such a squirmish at this very early stage. Normally, things would intensify in the autumn, after the annual holidays, but this time for varying reasons, possible candidates do not want to be ignored !!!
First of all, it must be noted that President Sarkozy has slumped in the opinion polls. It is clear that he has not pleased the majority of voters with what he has done so far. This has convinced him that he must embark on the re-election trail early to harness doubting voters, particularly those in the centre who could vote either left or right !!! This should also deter any other possible candidates on the right of his party to stand against him.
Secondly, and not least, it is quite clear there are several possible candidates for whom the election next year will be their last chance to become President of France !!!
Thirdly, there are possible candidates who know they will not win this year, but who would become better known even if they lost !!!
Serious candidates know, that if they do not have the private means to support the costs of running in an election, they must be the official candidate of a, or their party, even if it is small.
The Socialists as a Party, have an internal election to decide who will be sponsored to represent them in the election for the Presidency. This is no small matter. One quickly sees the true colours of each candidate. This year there are numerous candidates, but also some who will not want to be rejected as official candidates ! They will want to run even if they are not official candidates !!!
The conundrum in this election is Strauss Kahn, who has high poll ratings, but who is not yet available because he is the current President of the World Bank until end 2012 !!! If he becomes a candidate after the official candidate has been chosen by the Socialist Party, the cat will be among the pidgeons !!!
However, there are several other Socialists who dearly want to stand for the election to become President; not to name them all, there is Segolene Royal who lost against President Sarkozy last time, Martine Aubry, the secretary of the Socialist Party and François Hollande the previous secretary.
The big surprise could come from the extreme Right, the Front National. Their leader, Marine Lepen, has had high poll ratings and they disturb all the other candidates.
Read the article in this blog dated 10/10/2011: "Socialist Primaries: 2 Big Surprises"
Without in any way wishing to take sides, it is interesting to highlight why there is such a squirmish at this very early stage. Normally, things would intensify in the autumn, after the annual holidays, but this time for varying reasons, possible candidates do not want to be ignored !!!
First of all, it must be noted that President Sarkozy has slumped in the opinion polls. It is clear that he has not pleased the majority of voters with what he has done so far. This has convinced him that he must embark on the re-election trail early to harness doubting voters, particularly those in the centre who could vote either left or right !!! This should also deter any other possible candidates on the right of his party to stand against him.
Secondly, and not least, it is quite clear there are several possible candidates for whom the election next year will be their last chance to become President of France !!!
Thirdly, there are possible candidates who know they will not win this year, but who would become better known even if they lost !!!
Serious candidates know, that if they do not have the private means to support the costs of running in an election, they must be the official candidate of a, or their party, even if it is small.
The Socialists as a Party, have an internal election to decide who will be sponsored to represent them in the election for the Presidency. This is no small matter. One quickly sees the true colours of each candidate. This year there are numerous candidates, but also some who will not want to be rejected as official candidates ! They will want to run even if they are not official candidates !!!
The conundrum in this election is Strauss Kahn, who has high poll ratings, but who is not yet available because he is the current President of the World Bank until end 2012 !!! If he becomes a candidate after the official candidate has been chosen by the Socialist Party, the cat will be among the pidgeons !!!
However, there are several other Socialists who dearly want to stand for the election to become President; not to name them all, there is Segolene Royal who lost against President Sarkozy last time, Martine Aubry, the secretary of the Socialist Party and François Hollande the previous secretary.
The big surprise could come from the extreme Right, the Front National. Their leader, Marine Lepen, has had high poll ratings and they disturb all the other candidates.
Read the article in this blog dated 10/10/2011: "Socialist Primaries: 2 Big Surprises"
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