The last by the CSA credits the Modem of 9 of the vote

The best defense is attack. But within two months of regional elections, François Bayrou appears once again on the defensive, forced to fight to prevent goals against his camp. Soon returned to Martinique, the centrist leader tried yesterday to minimize the rallying of activists Modem on the list of Ségolène Royal in Poitou-Charentes. As defections to other candidates Modem, mainly members of Cap 21, the movement of Corinne Lepage, in Languedoc-Roussillon, Paca, Brittany, upper Normandy, Lorraine, or country-de-Loire. "As in all parties, at the time of the elections, there is some bitterness and people from seeking benefits elsewhere." "Are personal approaches driven by personal interests", it was estimated in an interview with the "Parisian", ensuring that "this will be a blow of the sword in the water".

Autonomy in the first round

In December, the President of the democratic movement had declined the offer of the President of Poitou-Charentes (alliance in the first round against 5 eligible places) all as "sympathetic". The tone is today less leads, François Bayrou criticizing the propensity - the "ICT" - Ségolène Royal "is inviting constantly there where she is not invited."

At the beginning of the year, it would have well happened in this case. Even if the Modem activists who violated its deposit are far from the tenors, their decision weakens the national strategy of the party, based on an autonomy in the first round. And makes more difficult the understanding by the view, François Bayrou blaming his troops to "go to the soup", all in preparing to negotiate with the Socialists in the Entre-Deux-tours in many regions. "Was not built a serious and coherent project" between 14 and 21 March, criticised the President for the Modem of Charente-Maritime, Alexis Blanc, who joined Ségolène Royal.

Without real locomotive

Without being a candidate for these regional (in 2004, he had led the UDF in Aquitaine list), François Bayrou big plays. Not that it is so badly placed in terms of personal popularity. His future in the TNS-Sofres barometer coast, returned to 34, compared to 27 in June, superior to those of Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Ségolène Royal or Jean-François Copé. But a new underperformance of his party would not completely inconsequential to his presidential ambitions. Or the Modem weakened by his setbacks in the European part in the battle without actual locomotive.

Polls, moreover, are not exorbitant. The last, by the CSA, credits the Modem of 9 of the vote. Another, by the FIFG, gives 5 Alain Dolium in Ile-de-France, despite a beautiful media coverage at the announcement of his candidacy. On paper, the region is however not the most unfavourable to the Centrists. In 2004, the UDF, with André Santini, there had collected 16.4 of the vote, compared to 12 on average in 16 regions where she presented an autonomous list (in the other six, it was allied to the UMP). "It is not the polls that are the result." "A survey, it is an indication of anything at a time T", assured Eric Azière, "Mr Elections" of the Modem. This Sunday, François Bayrou officially gives the regional campaign kickoff. The opportunity to... on the offensive.