Socialists' Hollande is kinder, gentler than rival Sarkozy

This spring, the Socialist Party’s strongest potential competitor to conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy became the target of sex-crimes accusations that grabbed headlines across the world, and focussed attention on Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s history of infidelities. Now, the French appear to be in the mood for a change.

On Sunday, the Socialists nominated Francois Hollande, an affable, soft-spoken and witty former longtime party boss, as their candidate for what is likely to be a presidential election showdown next May against the divisive Sarkozy.

In recent months, Hollande has said he wants to be a “normal” president. Opinion polls suggest the strategy may be working, showing Hollande is far more popular than the vastly unpopular incumbent.

When asked “Why you?” Hollande answered: “Because I can beat Nicolas Sarkozy.”
Hollande, a bespectacled 57-year-old career politician, has built his reputation as a manager and consensus-builder more than a visionary.

Sarkozy’s backers went on the counteroffensive on Monday, trying to depict Hollande as wishy-washy, lacklustre and unprincipled. “What do people say about Francois Hollande? They say he’s skillful; they never say he’s courageous,” said Jean-Francois Cope, who leads Sarkozy’s UMP party.

Sarkozy has had no shortage of bold decisions — not all perceived as good for France — and he has grown unpopular: His ratings have hovered around 30 per cent for months, after winning with 53 per cent of the vote in 2007.