Election flop for Nicolas Sarkozy

On 21 March, the second round of regional elections culminated in a humiliating defeat for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Union pour un mouvement populaire (UMP) and a victory for the Socialist Party, which Libération describes as "historic." The Left won more than 53% of the vote and control of 21 of the 22 regions in Metropolitan France, while the UMP scored a meager 35% — which prompts the daily to announce: "The triumph of Sarkozyism is at an end. Just three years after his unrelenting presidential campaign, the head of state has come a cropper." The elections were also marked by a remarkably low turnout, with 48% of voters staying away from the polls, and "spectacular gains for the National Front" — the extreme-right party scored more than 20% in several regions. According to Libération, "the results have highlighted the likelihood of a real contest in presidential elections in 2012," and given the steep decline in his popularity, "the distinct possiblity that President Sarkozy may not be re-elected for a second term." None of the 12 UMP ministers who stood in the elections succeeded in obtaining seats — a fact which Libération believes will shortly result in a cabinet reshuffle.