Déjà vu
Nicolas Sarkozy returns to lead the centre-right against Marine Le Pen
WHEN the French voted in 2000 to shorten their presidential term from seven years to five, the result was to accelerate the rhythm of political life. The next presidential election is not due until 2017, but the race is already under way, the more so after two party-leadership elections this weekend. On November 29th Nicolas Sarkozy, who was president in 2007-12, was elected head of the centre-right UMP. The next day, Marine Le Pen was re-elected leader of the populist National Front. The contours of the next presidential contest are beginning to take shape.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Déjà vu”
From the December 6th 2014 edition
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A turn away from the EU plunges Georgia into crisis
France’s government faces the imminent loss of a vote of confidence
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Five years after it was gutted by fire, the cathedral is more beautiful than ever
Ursula von der Leyen has a new doctrine for handling the hard right
The boss of the European Commission embarks on a second term
Marine Le Pen spooks the bond markets
She threatens to bring down the French government, but also faces a possible ban from politics