A game of musical chairs opens to replaceThe constitutional reform is passed by thereWithin a decade their number has doubledAll the parts do not have the same interestUntil then it was in the status quo anteGilles Babinet won his first million eurosOur policy work and resists the economic modelSustainable development is almost mandatory What are your agreements with the StateATypically more arid the dob has been a festival of good wordsIn a week, the assent vote which had struck the right is amplified. Voters were more likely to move yesterday for the second round of regional elections, which, in the half of the cantons, was coupled with the second round of the cantonal elections. The participation rate was 65 ( 3 points). And it is again the left which has benefited.
The PS and its allies won Poitou-Charentes, the land of Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Auvergne, the region of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Picardie, Franche-Comté, Brittany, Languedoc-Roussillon, Lorraine, who seemed still entrenched right. They retained the Ile-de-France right hoped to regain, d'Azur, Nord - Pas-de-Calais, Aquitaine, the Centre, the Haute-Normandie. In total, with a gap of voice at the national level of more than 12 points on the right, the left took yesterday evening in all regions except one, the Alsace, who resisted him, while the Pays de la Loire, François Fillon, and champagne-Ardenne region, thought yet firmly anchored to the right, have swung to the left. In addition, all candidates Ministers were defeated.
Call for 'a new impetus. "
After this debacle election, due both to the strong mobilization of the left and the maintenance of the national Front at a high level (about 13), the question is whether Jean-Pierre Raffarin can stay at Matignon. Last weekend, the Prime Minister had shown rather confident, explaining that he was "Chief of the majority built for five years." Yesterday, the Prime Minister left doors open. He acknowledged that the opposition had "won" and of "changes were required. Then he called for "action new, more efficient and fair", centered on "employment and social cohesion", without specifying if it was he who would lead them. Alain Juppé, President of the UMP, has called for "a new impetus", ensuring that there was not issue for the majority to abandon reforms. The Elysee Palace made no comment.
The more comfortable for Jacques Chirac would be to maintain as long as possible Jean-Pierre Raffarin with which it maintains relations of confidence. Since long weeks, Prime Minister preparing, in close consultation with the Elysee Palace, a vast reshuffle of his Government to try to find a new lease on life. The objective is twofold: improve the efficiency of the machinery of Government by assigning a specific mission to each Minister and redefining the boundaries between Governments (see page 4). And highlight the imperative of social justice by emerge to the sovereign pole, who has worked for two years, a much stronger social pole.
"Of the unjust reforms."
In such a scenario, Jean-Louis Borloo should be promoted to the head of a Department for social cohesion (fight against exclusion, urban policy, etc.). Nicolas Sarkozy, who emerged as the strongman of the Entre-Deux-tours, should see its expanded responsibilities. Other Ministers as Xavier Darcos, Renaud Dutreil, Hervé Gaymard, Dominique Bussereau, Jean-François Copé should rise in rank. It also refers emphatically the entrance to the Government of the former UDF Jacques Barrrot and Philippe Douste-Blazy, whereas the Ministers of the civil society (Luc Ferry and probably also Francis Mer) would be the costs of the realignment. In the light of the reactions of the different personalities of the UMP (read page 16), this scenario yesterday remained perfectly credible and could intervene very quickly.
However, it is not sure whether the answer is up to the message sent by voters. Jean-Pierre Raffarin fate indeed greatly weakened in the second round. On background of rise of the left, it may be difficult to fly the reform of health insurance under this summer. Yesterday, the PS took yesterday directly to the head of State by requiring "withdraw unfair reforms." François Bayrou, President of the UDF, has, he spoke of "crisis of confidence" in calling for "fair reform." But for Jacques Chirac no alternative measures is comfortable: appoint Nicolas Sarkozy at Matignon, it would opt for a new cohabitation. Choose a faithful as Dominique de Villepin, Jean-Louis Debré, Michèle Alliot-Marie, it would give the impression of retreat on the RPR family.
