Jean-François Copé, leader of Sarkozy's party, the UMP, sends regular emails to the public. On the right's poor showing in the first round of cantonal elections, for example: 'The presidential majority held up rather better than some people predicted.' We waited impatiently for his upbeat summary of the second round, on 27 March, from which the UMP limped away to prepare for another battle, between the party's senior moderates and the president's right-wing entourage.

LRB 14 April 2011 | PDF Download