To get a sense of the extraordinary fervour and joy of many of Ségolène Royal's supporters after her victory last night, read the posting by one Lea Bluteau on Royal's Desirs d'Avenir (Wishes for the Future) website:
I'm in tears this morning ... Why do I believe in her? Why do I believe she is sincere? Why do I believe she will win in May? Why do I believe that WE, the Frenchwomen and Frenchmen struggling every day, will win in May? Because I think Segolene Royal has understood what the elite hasn't: THE FRENCH PEOPLE are adults and capable of changing, together and in solidarity. THE FRENCH PEOPLE want to get up this morning knowing that despite their trials Madame la Presidente of the French Republic is leading them ... I shall dry my eyes and carry on fighting to pay my rent and feed my children ... Let us carry Segolene Royal to the Elysee and build the future together!
This kind of thing does not go down well with everyone. Still, the losers' backers are largely pragmatic. "I'm not going to pretend that I wasn't hoping Dominique Strauss-Kahn would win," writes MonPuteaux. "However, there are two consolations. Firstly, DSK had a good campaign. He affirmed his credibility and stature as a statesman and a lot of the French are looking at him in a new light. Secondly, his SOCIAL DEMOCRAT agenda was endorsed for the first time in the Socialist party. One activist in four approved his line."
"The mistake SK [Dominique Strauss-Kahn] and [Laurent] Fabius made, intelligent though they are, was to suggest small solutions for big problems that they did not even put across clearly. Impression de déjà vu," writes Carnets de Nuit.
"Except for a more acrimonious atmosphere than usual, this presidential election has a very French flavour in the great tradition of De Gaulle: a man facing the people. Let's hope that this doesn't lead to the same misunderstandings as in the past," says Versac, who blogged the result, US-style.
"What's at stake is the revival of our country and the task of getting society working again," a triumphant Royal tells her supporters on Desirs d'avenir this morning. "With your help, everything is possible."
In six months' time we will know whether the French people, as well as 60.6% of her party, agree.
