Where is the renovation?

What’s this renovation?

 France’s socialist party’s (PS) national annual conference, held last July, made it clear that their party needed a new way of thinking, a new way of debating, a new way of existing. In other words, they needed a “renovation” as their presidential candidate, Ségolène Royal, had lost the 2007 elections. Obviously, this caused major disappointment and the Socialist Party’s deputies were quite angered of such a loss. 

 What is this renovation so many socialists are starving for? This renovation has many key points. First, getting rid of the old and unpopular socialists that have embarrassed and humiliated the PS. Second, redefining French socialism. Third, proving and setting themselves as an example in Franc’s political landscape. Concretely, no one really understands what this “renovation” stands for and, more particularly, how they can contribute to this major plan. 

What they’ve got in mind to renovate...

 Renovating the party means changing the troops mentalities and ways of thinking. For too long, the PS has been known for heavy criticism over France’s political system. For too long, the party’s leaders and famous socialist figures have somehow ruined the party’s image and made it drown deep low. Today, the problem is quite massive; Liberals are clueless of which party they should support - they mostly believe the image of socialist parties has radically changed those past 15 years.

 This renovation is absolutely necessary in order to keep the PS going. And many faces, such as Arnaud Montebourg, former spokesman to Ségolène Royal during the presidential elections, have tried to pass on a message; the renovation starts from a new way of thinking, a modern, up-to-date, and a convincing way of criticizing the leading right-wing party. 

Disappointed socialist politicians

 But, honestly, PS’s militants and deputies are quite disappointed. The project lacks concrete and clear ideas. François Hollande, Ségolène Royal, Arnaud Montebourg, Bertrand Delanoë - all very important members of the Party - haven’t understood the way of renovating their ideas. Finding solutions and avoiding negative criticism is, in the eyes of the many people, the key to renovating the PS. One striking elements proves how little they care to renovating France’s main Socialist Party; François Hollande, the Party’s leader, has recently lavished unprecedented sums of money from his Party - even as their financial situation is at stake - in a publicity campaign which theme is: "Work harder to make less money" and its background image is... Nicolas Sarkozy. Some say how embarrassing it is - once again - for the Party to lavish so much money into such a "useless" campaign. 

So, where’s the renovation so many socialists are waiting for? Will socialism ever be at the forefront of France’s political ideas and orientations? The problem might be their leaders. It could be their way of thinking. Yet, one thing is sure, the renovation must start from a change of mentalities and ways of criticising France’s current political system - changing their old ways to new one’s.