FRENCH ELECTION UPDATE :: Socialist Quits French Left to Join Right

The New York Times ^ | July 19, 2007 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[Cincinna]

In the heat of the presidential campaign early this year, Jack Lang, a popular icon of the French left, accused Nicolas Sarkozy of “trickery at the highest level,” “anti-republican behavior” and — perhaps most cutting of all — being a “Bush adapted for France.”

Now Mr. Lang, a former culture minister and education minister who served as campaign spokesman for the defeated Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal, is the latest leading Socialist to defect to the Sarkozy camp.

On Monday night, he announced that he was accepting President Sarkozy’s invitation to join his committee on modernizing France’s institutions. Threatened last week with expulsion from the Socialists’ leadership council if he accepted the assignment, Mr. Lang quit instead.

“Everyone, no matter what his ideological family, has the duty to bring his contribution to the reform of the Constitution,” Mr. Lang said on TF1 television.

The outspoken Mr. Lang is eager to make his views known,

[goldstategop]

The Socialists are being denuded of their leading figures. Now the question is: what can Sego to to stop Sarko?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cincinna]

SARKO SCORES ANOTHER COUP!

Former Socialist Jack Lang, an icon in France for decades, and one of the most popular personalities on the Left has jumped ship, before being "excommunicated" by the Hollande/Royal leadership of the Socialist Party.

Lang joins former Socialist luminaries like Bernard Kouchner, now a minister in the Sarkozy government, and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Sarko's choice to head up the IMF.

All three were among the most admired and respected personalities on the Left, but got no respect from the PS leadership.

Sarko has succeeded in removing from the grip of the PS, three of their most beloved and potentially important rivals.

BRAVO!

[fieldmarshaldj]

My concern with Sarkozy picking off all these Socialists, isn't all he's doing is moving his government leftwards... the wrong way ?

[goldstategop]

He's try to establish a government of national accord to move reforms forward and leave the Left hanging high and dry. Getting some of their figures on board could help sell the public reforms that have proven nearly impossible to achieve in the past.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cincinna]

Not at all. Sarko has laid out his program for France, and they have signed on to it. These are men of great ability, who can contribute much to their country, and to Sarko’s plan.

I wouldn’t worry, Sarko is someone who is totally in charge.

[Cincinna]

Excellent point.

The reason these high profile former Socialists (they were all expelled when they signed on with Sarko) went over to him is that they believe that he is the one that can change France for the better.

They all work for him, and at his pleasure. Sarko will make the final policy decisions.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’m just concerned that if we saw a similar situation over here with a new GOP President picking high-profile liberal rodents to put in his administration, I would not be thrilled in the least. It’s one thing if they’re on the left and repudiate their views and move right, quite another if they’re simply plucked from the left and added to an important posting. If Sarkozy is trying the tack of “expanding the tent”, eventually all he’ll have is a big circus.

[Cincinna]

I understand your concern, and it would certainly be a legitimate one in the US.

The French system is very, very different. The institutions are different, the role of the President is different.

Almost all power lies with the President.

I believe Sarko is faced with instituting enormously important and major reforms. In having these prominent former Socialists on his team, he will be able to move to have these changes accepted by the people.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yes, though having that many Socialists on your team, you’re bound to have people that will be undermining your goals. I would think most of these folks are far less pro-Sarkozy as they are anti-Segolene. If they can’t accomplish their goals through the Socialist party, they’ll utilize Sarkozy’s UMP. If he’s not careful with these people, he’s going to have his own disaster on his hands. Left-wingers aren’t exactly known for being modest and reserved types, and as soon as they become unhappy, they crap in their nests something fierce (and it usually ends up covering anything and anyone standing nearby).

But, we shall see...

[Cincinna]

Segolene Royal is over, she is the past, and a loser.

If and when these appointees ever seem to be doing anything except implementing the Sarko agenda, they will be sacked.

They are appointed, and serve at the pleasure of the President.

[Caipirabob]

FRENCH ELECTION UPDATE :: Socialist Quits French Left to Join Right

This is pretty much how the GOP imploded.

Infiltration by the enemy. "Oh, it's Ok! See, I'm one of you!..."

[johnthebaptistmoore]

I really don’t know if this is overall a good thing or a bad thing. In the short-term, this may be a good thing, but in the long-term, this may end up as a very bad thing to have happened. Socialists who join with the new, conservative government could also end up destroying the conservative government from the inside by practicing socialism! These socialist must truly become conservatives from now on to truly convince me of their political conversions! As another example, throughout the U.S., look at how the “RINO” Republicans at every political level continue to destroy the total, formally conservative Republican Party from inside the “total” Republican Party entity! “RINO” Republicans are often just as bad as “leftist” Democrats on many issues, and this continuing problem for the Republican Party has lasted for several years and counting! “RINO’s” at every political level continue to destroy the “conservatism” part of the Republican Party!

[jmaroneps37]

The french have surrender and trading sides down to a fine art.

[SatinDoll]

Forty percent of France’s population is Muslim. Sarkosy needs all the Frenchies he can recruit! After all, he is trying to reform France and save it for the French. I believe most of that nations citizens realize that fact.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Notice how the left treats those who dissent from official socialist dogma.

[PEACE ENFORCER]

Actually it’s 10%....:)

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe he’s just hiring them away to weaken the opposition, then after he gets his agenda passed and implemented, he’ll fire them. ;’)

[Philistone]

Jack Lang is an egotistical clown who never met a microphone or camera he didn’t like. He just wants to be on the winning side.

OTOH, anything that irks the Socialists is fine with me.

[Cincinna]

I think you need to check your figures.

Roughly 10% of France’s population is Muslim.