This is a chance for Sarkozy to break the pin that Villepin has had him in for several months. The CPE was heavy-handed, and was Villepin's baby. Villepin sought to "tough it out",which of course must fail if a strike generalizes. That is what the CPE strike did.
So, Sarkozy now seeks to sound conciliatory and take up the mantle of the UMP.
It may work.
But more than likely, the voters will simply reject the UMP in totum.
I think that de Villiers, in particular, is likely to siphon off moderate right votes concerned about immigration and security.
The Socialists have a chance to return to power, but they have to present somebody who has something going for her...
related:
http://egyptelection.com/content/view/125/1/
http://egyptelection.com/Images/03-06/S%E9gol%E8ne-Royal.jpg
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/11241
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/11278
With conservatives like Sarkozy, no wonder
Can the Socialists do anything but make things worse?
Speaking of Villiers, do you expect FN supporters to start defecting to Villiers now that JMLP is starting to stumble?
Also is Sarkozy still favored to be chosen by the UMP over Villepin or is Chirac able to annoint Villepin as succesor in the UMP?
I would hope Villepin would win the leadership because there would be large numbers of voters in the UMP who would move over to Villiers' column were Villepin to take over the leadership.
