PS: the financial turmoil is changing the lines

Normally, the PS first left-wing party in France, should not remain inaudible to face the economic and financial crisis. Bank, the return of nationalization, rising unemployment ... These are all topics on which the left is expected. The outcome of the congress of "clarification" provided for in Reims will it be amended?

The gap is now impressive. On the one hand, the battle for leadership of the party, the other a crisis of unprecedented liberalism. No doubt a subject more concerned Socialist supporters than the other. The first effect of the crisis on the PS could be to reduce the deliberations of Congress in reality ... This is the discourse that now prevails: "We must be serious," they say. Bertrand Delano of Benot Hamon, all party leaders denounce with one voice "the madness of the financial system s'", as depicted Sgolne Royal. While it will not be easy to keep this single subject, as the opposition Socialists between first door on the nature of the party they want to lead.

Anyway, the economic situation gives a priori credit to speech that legitimize the use of public power. A breath of fresh air to the left, which thought it had lost, when the presidential election, the "ideological battle" against the right of Nicolas Sarkozy. But that requires him to think again about itself.

The crisis of liberalism comes as the Socialists have requested, before the summer, clarifying their relationship to the market economy in their "Declaration of principles". An alignment of words and practices that resonated as a form of acceptance of liberalism, provided it is regulated. The crisis is a test for the Socialists. After clarifying ambiguities in his vocabulary, the PS is immediately subjected to the test acts. What kinds of responses brings Does the crisis?

Here, differences emerge. The first secretary, Franois Hollande, has proposed a plan of action: guarantee fund for loans, reduced corporation tax for SMEs ... But it appeared timid well in the eyes of the wing left party, led by Benot Hamon, who wants to challenge the rules of the system itself.

Given the context, supporters of "radical change" have the wind in its sails. Sgolne Royal and Martine Aubry (in two very different styles) have taken this phrase in their speeches.

Both motions most left before the Congress, as Aubry and that of Hamon Hope in any case benefit from the context for the vote militants, Nov. 6. Aubry, because it advocates a return to the place of the State; Hamon, because he wants to put restrictions on free trade.

After the centrist temptation in the wake of the presidential and hand modem supports a less spendthrift, the PS will he, again, be tempted by the left turn? Better than a defeat, the financial crisis then lead to a reorientation of the ideological PS.

Unless the financial crisis had a more organizational. In 2005, at the Le Mans, the riots in the suburbs had contributed to accept the general synopsis. The serious economic situation, failing to lead to "national unity" proposed by Franois Fillon, could force the unity of PS on behalf of credibility. This is the card that can play Franois Hollande, the fan assembly majority, or Bertrand Delano, on behalf of leadership.

This is the last possible consequence on the PS. By placing the debate to a level far more important, the economic situation could help the PS to solve its fundamental problem: the lack of leadership. Faced with the crisis, the aspiring first secretaries will demonstrate their credibility.