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French President Hollande Fights for Survival as Socialists Face Wilderness

© REUTERS / Philippe WojazerFrench President Francois Hollande
French President Francois Hollande - Sputnik International
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French President Francois Hollande is fighting for his political life as he ponders his chances of standing again for the French presidency in the face of massive unpopularity, a threat from within his Socialist party and a resurgent center-right and right-wing campaign against him.

French President Francois Hollande leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 15, 2016, after attending an emergency defence meeting the day after the Bastille Day truck attack in Nice. - Sputnik International
French MPs Call on 'Bad President' Hollande to Answer for His 'Disgraceful' Acts
Hollande has yet to formally announce he is standing for the French presidency in the 2017 election, but is facing a battle to unify his own Socialists amid growing anger over his party's failure to turn round the fortunes of the French economy and implement deeply unpopular reforms to his country's strict labor laws. 

The controversial changes — which have seen unions and students stage months of strikes and protests — would give employers more scope to lay-off workers and cut costs and allow some employees to work far longer than the current — and much cherished — maximum 35-hour week. Other reforms include a cap on severance pay for workers dismissed by a company.

© AFP 2023 / FRED DUFOURStriking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, protest with flares during a demonstration against reform plans proposed by the French government, on June 18, 2014, at the Austerlitz train station in Paris
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, protest with flares during a demonstration against reform plans proposed by the French government, on June 18, 2014, at the Austerlitz train station in Paris - Sputnik International
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, protest with flares during a demonstration against reform plans proposed by the French government, on June 18, 2014, at the Austerlitz train station in Paris

The current uncertain cost of laying-off workers mean that companies are risk-averse to doing so, leaving them less flexible and — in some cases — less productive. Opponents say the reforms would undermine workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks.

With his popularity at an all-time low, his own Prime Minister Manuel Valls has been mooting standing against him in the Socialist primaries in January 2017. Valls has not yet declared his candidacy, but told French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche:

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron attends a political rally for his recently launched political movement, En Marche!, or Forward!, in Paris, France, July 12, 2016. - Sputnik International
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"I will make a conscious decision…Whatever happens, the best interests of the country will influence my decision."

Meanwhile, Hollande's former economics minister Emmanuel Macron Macron snubbed the president in April 2016 by launching his own political party — called 'En marche!' (Forward) — saying: "It will be neither left nor right. This is not a movement set up for the presidency, that's not my priority today. My priority is the situation the country is facing now. 

"I'm in a left-wing government, unashamedly,… but I also want to work with people from the right, who commit to the same values. This ambition, it's radical, it's a bit crazy, but there is such an energy in the country," he said in a launch video.

Hollande's Dilemma

Hollande is now in a quandary: to fight a two-horse race against his PM, or stand aside and let his PM through to fight it out for the Socialists. Whichever way, the party will be up against Macron who is targeting the disaffected center-left, hoping to attract the left-leaners of the center-right — the so-called middle ground.

© REUTERS / PHILIPPE WOJAZERFrancois Fillon, former French prime minister and member of Les Republicains political party, delivers his speech after partial results in the second round for the French center-right presidential primary election in Paris, France, November 27, 2016.
Francois Fillon, former French prime minister and member of Les Republicains political party, delivers his speech after partial results in the second round for the French center-right presidential primary election in Paris, France, November 27, 2016. - Sputnik International
Francois Fillon, former French prime minister and member of Les Republicains political party, delivers his speech after partial results in the second round for the French center-right presidential primary election in Paris, France, November 27, 2016.

Meanwhile, the Republicans will be led by Francois Fillon, who won his way through his party's primaries to stand on a center-right, free market, small government ticket, hoping to show greater capability of reforming the country's stumbling economy.

Fillon is putting himself up as an alternative to right-wing party Front National leader Marine Le Pen, who has enjoyed months of increasing popularity.

Hollande has two weeks to declare his hand, but polls show that neither he nor his prime minister are likely to make much of a dent in the vote, with Fillon and Le Pen currently garnering around 25 percent support, followed by Macron.

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