French press review 9 September 2016

President Hollande blasts right-wing rivals in fiery speech on democracy and terrorism seen as a re-election campaign launch.

We begin with reactions to President Francois Hollande's speech in Paris on democracy and the threat of terrorism seen as preparing the ground for a re-election bid.

Le Parisien reports that the Socialist leader cast himself as a guardian of democracy, resisting calls from the right for more repressive laws against jihadist attacks that have left over 230 people dead in France since January 2015.

Monsieur Hollande spoke after the discovery of six gas cylinders in an abandoned car near Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral by suspected Jihadists.

 President Hollande vowed never to sacrifice the core values of liberty, equality and fraternity, rubbishing claims by opposition leader Nicolas Sarkozy that "the terrorists are attacking the French because they are weak. The Patriot Act and Guantanamo have not protected Americans from the terrorist threat, Hollande  fired back adding that democracy is France's weapon.

Candidate Francois Hollande?

Despite the fact that the incumbent president has deferred his decision on whether to run until December, some papers read bigger meaning from Prime Minister Manuel Valls' praise of President Hollande's "setting of a vision for the country with new vitality".

"Grandpa is up" satirizes Libération claiming that Francois Hollande who some had been quick to rule out of the presidential race had made one of the best speeches of his Presidency. He emerged from the speech far above the declaration of candidacies the French had been subjected to this summer.

For Libé there is no doubt in its mind that Francois Hollande will seek re-election and as it puts it, he has chosen to present himself to the French people through ideas which should appease voters who had been disappointed by “Hollandisme”.
The clouds are gradually clearing up according to Libération.

And for the left-leaning publication Hollande was again speaking to his former electorate, at a moment France appeared to be skidding dangerously towards the unknowns of nationalist liberalism.

Le Figaro also believes that Francois Hollande will not be the first President to renounce seeking a second term, in its reaction to the Wagram Hall address.

The opposition should be forewarned that he will be no push around, writes the right wing publication adding that the Head of State who looked fainthearted during his term can only mount a thunderous campaign in a desperate attempt to try to rally his former supporters.

Going by Le Figaro's argument, Hollande should have been more credible if he was popular, if he could boast of a good record and if he was recognized as the natural flag-bearer of the left in the 2017 Presidential elections.

Francois Hollande won't give up says L'Opinion adding that his strategy for 2017 is "me or chaos". From the conservative publication's point of view, it is a little short sighted and pretentious on his part to opt for such an electoral slogan at a time when the French have never felt so pessimistic, fragile and under attack as the country emerges from an economically and socially weak 5 years.

La Fête de l'Humanité

L'Humanité publishes a new survey which it claims confirms the vitality of leftist values in France as the communist daily prepares for this Friday's opening of the 3-day Fête de l'Humanité organized annually by the French Communist newspaper.

As the crowd-pulling festival of music, exhibitions, debates and workshops gets underway, the paper says the study carried out by the IFP polling institute shows that 48 percent of French voters positioned themselves in the leftist, a 1 point increase over last year's figures.

According to the paper, the findings contradict the "nauseating debates on national identity, the liberal preaching and conversions to the corporate chiefs doctrine" witnessed in France during this so-called troubled period.

For l'Humanité, there is comfortable political space to reunite progressive forces, to set greater ambitions for social progress and to carry a leftist agenda to victory in the 2017 elections.