In an earlier post you can see the Mayor of Pontrieux, posing with members of Sarkozy’s campaign team. I was confused, as looking at the results of the mayoral elections in 2003, the Mayor was elected as the UDF candidate. The UDF is closely associated with and supportive of the UMP, to the extent that it is often suggested that the two parties merge.
So why should I be surprised that the UDF Mayor is supporting the UMP Presidential candidate? Because in the first round of the election, the UDF leader Francois Bayrou was standing as a candidate. Has the Mayor changed sides, or did I witness a convention of French society where the Mayor was fulfilling a civic duty, in the same way that the Mayor of Brighton or Blackpool will give a welcoming address to the Labour or Conservative Party conference when in town?
Why don’t I just ask him? As he is a politician I might. Ordinarily, as I have discovered, one does not ask a French person their political allegiance, it is considered very rude. The French will discuss politics til the cows come home, but keep mum about their voting intentions. As a foreigner I am often excused compliance with French social norms, but in politics I tread carefully. On this occasion the local equivalent of the Thornbury Gazette “L’Echo” has provided the answer. Commenting that Segolene Royal topped the poll in Pontrieux – on the patch of the M. Yves Le Mouer, the UMP Mayor!
So confusion over? Not quite!
On Wednesday the Sarkozy and Royal camps were waiting with baited breath to see which way Francois Bayrou, (who came third in the first round) would advise his supporters to vote in the second round. The answer: neither. On top of which he announced that he was quitting the party of which he is currently the leader to set up a new one. I am still confused.
