The scene looks set for a re-run in the next French Presidential elections as defeated candidate in 2007 Ségolène Royal has announced she would seek the Socialist ticket, long before the deadline for nominations.The current President Nicolas Sarkozy, elected with 53.06% of the vote in the second round of the election, has hardly enjoyed his time in office and has consistently had to endure dismal popularity ratings amongst his public. He has not said publicly that he would run for re-election in 2012, yet he is widely expected to do so.
In light of these poor ratings (still hovering around the 35% mark - their lowest levels since he took office), the Socialists and the parties on the left of the political spectrum have the opportunity to make gains and with the right candidate could end the conservative UMP party’s hold on the presidency since 1995.
In her announcement, Ms Royal said her compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the current head of the IMF, would make an ideal Prime Minister, but many (myself included) believe instead he would be the strongest challenger to Mr Sarkozy in the elections scheduled for 2012.
A TNS Sofres poll published a week earlier showed Mr Strauss-Kahn crushing Mr Sarkozy if the two faced off in the second round of a presidential contest, taking 62 per cent of the count.
But as yet Mr Strauss-Kahn has refused so far to reveal his intentions, although in an interview to the German news magazine Stern early this month revealed: “I will tell you what I tell everyone. I am going to see my term as IMF managing director through to the end. And the term ends in 2012”.
In order to select its official candidate, the Socialist party is holding a pre-selection “primary” contest next autumn. All candidates for the nomination have to declare their intentions by June 2011.
