PS hard to become an alternative to Nicolas Sarkozy

The left found some fighting spirit before the battle for Europe in June but hardly ever to emerge as an alternative to Nicolas Sarkozy, however ill two years after coming to power.

If the efforts of first secretary of the Socialist Martine Aubry to repair a machine Socialist long crisis is beginning to take effect, the horizon still seem far from being reached for the presidential election of 2012.

"This is the bottle half empty and half full," says Reuters Jérôme Fourquet, director of studies at Ifop.

"We are still on the idea of a party that is in the process of reconstruction but that can not resolve in a few weeks or few months strategic issues that he knows for years," he adds.

According to a survey Ifop, the PS appears close to the concerns of French (52%) and even in tune with the social movements (55%). But for 76%, it would answer to the crisis and 69% doubted that it better than the right.

For Daniel Cohn-Bendit, which leads Europe Ecology list in the vote on June 7, left, who normally "embodies voluntarism" is simply "overwhelmed" by the activism of Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected on 6 May 2007.

"That is why it should not try to campaign against Sarko, we need to differentiate," he explained recently in Le Monde, while its list ranks third in voting intentions.

SIGNS OF RECOVERING

Yet the slogan "Stop Sarko, Barroso Stop", named after the conservative president of the European Commission, that the Socialists have chosen for battle of 7 June

The difficulties of the left becoming alarming to Nicolas Sarkozy, who would not have to face the centrist François Bayrou in the second round of the presidential election in a duel against the right.

Among the signs of recovery of the PS, Jérôme Fourquet is a "semblance of unity" after the tear in recent years and some fighting, driven in particular spokesman Benoit Hamon.

Jostled, even competition in recent months by the far left and the NPA leader Olivier Besancenot, the socialists have also won their events in return, to support the social movement.

"There are some who came back fighting," says the director of studies Ifop.

In contrast, the French doubt the ability of PS to do better than Nicolas Sarkozy face of crisis and perceived difficulty if his project was to return to power. Against its plan to relaunch went relatively unnoticed.

Another difficulty, the PS still gives the image of a party plagued by internecine wars, to the point that a majority of French would rather choose their own presidential candidate in open primary.

"THE ROYAL PROBLEM REMAINS WHOLE"

In addition, the voices still speak, starting with the former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, which multiplies the "beating" and has emerged as the best opponent Nicolas Sarkozy.

"The problem remains unsolved Royal. Nearly 80% of French believe that it will be a candidate anyway, it demonstrated its will to fight. But they are a minority in thinking it will be elected," says Jerome Fourquet.

François Hollande, the predecessor to Martine Aubry à la tête du PS, said that the party will be in trouble if it fails to join within two years.

"How to collect if we ourselves are not united, federated?" He asked recently on France 2.

For Jerome Fourquet, the future of PS depend in part on the ability of Martine Aubry become the natural leader of the left and this challenge through the European elections.

"If it happens to be close to the UMP and even overtake him, I think there will be a natural authority and legitimacy that will emerge stronger," he says.

Otherwise, the PS, which has failed three times in succession in the presidential election, could face another period of turmoil and challenge.

A recent poll gives the UMP Ifop in head to Europe to 26.5% of votes, the PS being relegated far behind, at 22.5%.

The director of studies Ifop does not believe in the possibility of a return to the race of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the current Director General of the International Monetary Fund.

"When we know the culture and traditions left in this country, someone who would, with the main attribute for leading the IMF, I am not sure this is the best ticket win for the left," says it.