French Socialists seek renewal

One of the limping French Socialist party’s new generation, Arnaud Montebourg, says he has the answer to the problems that have kept it out of power.

Ahead of the PS’s big summer convention he has thrown his weight behind primary elections for the leadership open to all on the left, and not just party members. He has been asked to study the primary question by party leader Martine Aubry in a bid to tackle one the of the PS’s two key problems – unity. While the idea of primaries appears to be heading towards consensus, with former prime minister and old guard member Laurent Fabuis calling them “inevitable” today, Aubry faces a tougher challenge on alliances. Factionalism returns as some favour allying themselves with the MODEM centrists, others with the Greens of Europe Ecology, and some rule out either. Bound up with all this is Aubry’s still fragile hold on the leadership. She needs a deal.

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