rchapmanNov 26th, 2008 - 14:04:39

I think it is time for Segolene Royal to recognize that she is a divisive figure in the Socialist movement and to step back and rethink her position.

From the perspective of a rank and file socialist, Ms. Martine offers many of the same leadership attributes as Ms. Royal. Ms. Martine's accession to the leadership of the Socialist Party shows that its leadership selection process is still grounded in principle rather than in personality.

The socialism that Ms. Royal espouses is too theoretical and too removed from the experience of the ordinary citizen to attract support from any but the most doctrinaire adherents to Socialism. Ms. Royal's candidacy for the Presidency foundered on this lack of popular support and it is unlikely that she will be able to expand her support.

Ms. Martine puts a much more human and practical face on socialism. As party leader we can expect her to continue to work toward socialist programs that retain our principles while simultaneously expanding our support among the world's workers.

France is the only leading power that retains a socialist party, hence the future of the French socialist party is a matter of major global importance. Ms. Martine should be given a chance to show that Socialists can govern and expand their number of supporters.

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