French regional elections victory for Socialists ‘This is a statement election and one that we hope will echo around Europe’

22/03/2010

Sunday’s stunning election result in France was heralded by the President of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. “This is a statement election and one that we hope will echo around Europe”, he said. “For 18 months the French electorate has watched the conservatives attempt to fight the recession using only empty rhetoric. This result is an emphatic rejection of those hollow tactics”.

PES General Secretary Philip Cordery added that; “this result is as much about a growing recognition that the Socialist Party is the only option for long term recovery. Martine Aubry has galvanized the progressive left into coordinated action, and the people have responded”.

The result meant that the Socialist (PS) led coalition won 21 of the 22 mainland regions, with over 54% of the vote. Martine Aubry said the results illustrated the electorates; "rejection of the politics of the president and the government".

Mr. Rasmussen commented that he hoped this unequivocal call for a progressive approach is heeded by EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday. “It is my belief that this is the first of many polls that will show the true direction of Europe’s political compass. Our way out of this crisis points towards progressive”.