French Socialists split over future after defeat

Paris, May 7: France's divided and demoralised Socialists demanded rapid and radical reforms to revive their party's fortunes after it suffered a third successive defeat in a presidential election.

The soul searching began as soon as it became clear Socialist candidate Segolene Royal had failed to prevent Nicolas Sarkozy extending the conservatives' 12-year grip on the presidency since Francois Mitterrand stepped aside in 1995.

''The left has never been so weak because it has still not renovated itself,'' yesterday said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former finance minister beaten by Royal last year in the race to be the party's presidential candidate.

''We could all have done better. By never wanting to look behind, we condemn ourselves.'' Royal, who had hoped to be France's first woman president, did better than Lionel Jospin, the Socialist candidate in the last election in 2002. He finished in third place behind veteran far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

But she failed to heal divisions in the party caused by splits over the European Union constitution, which French voters rejected in a referendum in 2005, and was unable to restore the self-belief shaken by the presidential election failure in 2002.

The party is divided over which way to go to the centre or back towards more traditional left-wing supporters.

''If there is a unity to find, a common platform, it is not with the extreme left but clearly with the centre,'' said Socialist former Health Minister Bernard Kouchner.

But Laurent Fabius, a former prime minister who is further to the left of the party, urged it to stick to its roots.

''Yes, we need a union of the left and we need an opening up of the party, but without forgetting about our values. The flag is on the floor. We have to pick it up and raise it high again,'' he said.

Unorthodox Campaign

Royal's campaign was considered unorthodox by many on the left. She surprised many leftist supporters with ''un-Socialist'' proposals, such as a plan to send young troublemakers to military boot camp.

Inside her own camp, she was criticised for campaigning outside her own party. She also initiated a debate about the party's future direction by courting centrist voters in the two weeks between the first and second rounds of the election.

Royal yesterday said she would continue her battle, adding: ''I remain with you on the frontline.'' Jack Lang, a party veteran who is also a Royal adviser, defended her.

''Despite all the respect I have for Mr Strauss-Kahn, I cannot let him say what he says. It's true the left needs to be transformed...We shouldn't look at the past but at the future,'' he said.

Analysts say the Socialist party will need to show a united face before a parliamentary election in May. Socialist voters at the party's headquarters acknowledged divisions inside the party might have contributed to yesterday's defeat.

''It's hard to say why we lost. But there is no unity on the left,'' said Veronique Perez, 43, sitting on a window ledge, with several dozen discarded Royal posters lying by her feet.

Francois Hollande, the party's leader and Royal's partner, urged unity but no way to solve the problems.

''The left needs to unite. We need to open up, broaden up, call things into question while at the same time keeping our fundamental values,'' he said.

Reuters>