The Socialist Party in France emerged stronger leaving the French president Sarkozy and his Party, the Union for a Presidential Majority, considerably weaker in the recently held local elections. The elections were held in 37000 towns and villages and one half of the districts or cantons seat in France’s Provinces.
The results are seen as a sharp warning to the French President’s flashy life style and unilateral decisions on the country’s public services. In a way, Mr.Sarkozy is seen as a liability by his own party men. This theory gains credence from the reported news that some of his candidates had requested him to stay away from campaigning for them.
Mr.Sarkozy’s Party averted a total routing and humiliation because of the fact that it could hold Marseilles against the Socialists. He can also draw a solace from some of other factors relating to the elections. The turn around of 67% in the first round and 54% in the second round respectively are considered too low a figure from the French standards of voter’s participation in the elections. Again, though the socialist Party had emerged stronger, it still lacks direction at the national level. This is attributed to three consecutive defeats in the Presidential elections.
But Mr.Sarkozy can not afford to ignore the warnings that these results have thrown for the history may repeat itself. The Socialist Party won the 1977 local elections, 1981 Presidency and also the Presidency in 1988. Its Paris’ Mayor, Mr.Bertrand Delanoe, who led the city with a massive majority, who has emerged as a major national leader who can challenge Mr.Sarkozy. Above all, the people are worried about the increase in prices and emerging inflation.