In French presidential elections, successful candidates seem always to be able choose the emotional battlefield upon which they are later triumphant. In 1959, amidst the remains of the Fourth Republic, Charles de Gaulle offered voters a choice between his regime and chaos. Two decades later, Mitterrand hinged his campaign on the promise of social justice. Look forward another decade and you see Chirac putting employment at the centre of his promise to the French people. In each of these watershed elections, the successful candidate set out the coronating question upon which they would be judged.
Yes, the Socialists need an edge, but they also need credibility. A complete withdrawal from nuclear in France is almost inconceivable given how deeply reliant the country is on nuclear energy. The allure of a green, fashionable, and distinctive public persona is causing at least some Socialist hopefuls to lose sight of what France is – it is nuclear, more than any other country. France needs a debate on nuclear, and the issue could energise the Socialists’ campaign. But there is no point choosing a coronating question if you find that the throne is much diminished as a result.
For more: France, and the Socialists, need a debate on nuclear - Le Monde diplomatique - English edition: "-
No comments:
Post a Comment