tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9077113549693847021.post-28766916414271349482008-03-16T16:48:00.003-04:002008-03-16T16:52:44.628-04:00The Left <a href="http://www.lemonde.fr/web/sequence/0,2-3208,1-0,0.html">took </a>Toulouse but lost Marseille. It knocked out Xavier Darcos in Périgueux and put down François Bayrou in Pau. But it failed to mobilize voters--the abstention rate was the highest in decades.<br /><br />This dispiriting victory may nevertheless be a blessing in disguise. A more robust sanction vote against the Right would have induced a false sense of security. This lackluster win should remind all Socialists that the need for a thorough renovation of the party remains its first challenge.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9077113549693847021-2876691641427134948?l=artgoldhammer.blogspot.com'/></div>Arthur Goldhammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09634231576951069721noreply@blogger.com6