Villiers will be interesting because he took the right stand on Europe, and will benefit from the strong anti-immigrant backlash that is coming in France thanks to these riots.
The National Front was discredited, but a new nationalist party, with a smoother and more aristocratic leader (enter: Philippe de Villiers!) can assume their mantle.
I do not believe that Villiers' party will win any national elections, but I think they will take seats. The old left's answer to the riots is too palsied. Everyone feels the threat here, and their efforts to pretend this is just union social unrest is unpersuasive.
However, Villepin will win the Presidency. Sarkozy is in an impossible situation. He cannot truly "win" the riots, because all of the same people will be in place, and hating him, and agitating, and of course he will get the blame. Villepin will not remove him, because a crackdown is needed, and Sarkozy is Villepin's only potential rival for the presidency. So, Villepin will allow Sarkozy to fight the fight, and take the arrows, and do what is necessary, but Villepin will provide the healing balm and get the credit, and he will emerge the political victor.
In the 2007 presidentials, Villepin will be elected President. Sarkozy will either be subordinated, if he cannot find a way clear of the current situation. Or he will be prime minister. Villiers party may hold several seats in the Parliament, and could be a relatively constructive ally for the Villepin's party.
That is a long time from now, and politics are mercurial.
In the current riots, there will be muscle flexing and then calm. It will not generalize into a national strike, because nobody likes Muslims burning things. It is frightening, and it brings French people together to a common-sense solution. The only final solution to the issue is to break up the Islamist mosques and force secularization. Radical clerics must have their preaching licenses revoked and be expelled deep into Africa.
France will not stop the leaders from doing what is necessary.
Dead wrong!
I will try to come back here tomorrow and respond. Villepin is running to become captain of the Titanic. Sarkozy is fighting to save France, even Europe...against Islam. Even France isn't that stupid. I hope?