Women on top: two to watch
Two women in politics are due promotions: one to prime minister, the other as a presidential candidate.
MACHISMO was the order of the summer but away from the law and order strutting of President Sarkozy, the interior minister Brice Hortefeux and industry minister Christian Estrosi, it is two women who are due promotions: one to prime minister, the other as a presidential candidate.
While Sarkozy, Hortefeux and Estrosi took turns announcing policing crackdowns ahead of a reshuffle (Estrosi looking to take Hortefeux’s job at the Interior Ministry, Hortefeux looking to keep it, Sarkozy falling back on his “hard man” routine), it seems the job of France’s number two could go to Michèle Alliot-Marie.
Currently justice minister, she has kept clear of debates on stripping criminals of French nationality (perhaps aware that the legal obstacles will render this difficult and potentially impossible), preferring a discreet summer.
With the UMP party’s spokesman already describing her wealth of political experience and her good rapport with senators and MPs, she looks certain to take the job of prime minister if François Fillon is let go.
Another head to roll will be the foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, leaving a prestigious position open for those who have pleased the president, or those he just wants to keep close. Former prime minister Alain Juppé, perhaps?
Barack Obama proved that with the right confluence of events, a rank outsider can seize the top spot, which is why the announcement by Eva Joly that she would like to represent Europe Ecologie (and possibly other green parties) in the 2012 presidential election has been treated with interest.
Joly is known in France as a tough anti-corruption campaigner (as a prosecutor she pursued Elf boss Loïk Le Floch-Prigent until his eventual incarceration for fraud).
Her recent move from the judiciary into politics means she is not tarred with the “politician” label, she can play tough with Sarkozy on law and order and sleaze while not alienating the left-wing support for the green movement.
In 2007, Dominique Voynet gained just 1.57% of the vote for the Greens in the presidential race and despite favourable polls TV eco-activist Nicolas Hulot refused to throw his hat in the ring.
What upsets could be caused by an energetic green campaign fronted by a candidate who can box both left and right and who is already popular among the French?
