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French press review 3 December 2016

This morning's French papers consider the ramifications of the decision of the country's Socialist President François Hollande not to seek a 2nd term in office in elections in Spring next year.

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Most conclude that he's left the political Left in pieces. The Catholic Daily La Croix says the withdrawal of Hollande has plunged the Left into the unknown.

Still, the paper's editorial pays tribute to what it considers "the dignity" of his decision to step aside.

I'm reminded of the line in Shakespeare's play Macbeth that "Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it."

The papers consider the other possible runners and riders in the race for the Elysée Palace - with the focus on one in particular. On its front page, the popular daily Le Parisien wonders whether it's "Mission Impossible" for Valls.

That's Manual Valls,who you may recall, is Hollande's hard driving Prime Minister ans is widely expected to throw his hat in the ring to win the nomination as the Socialist candidate for President.

If he wants to be the candidate, the paper says, he must first put the Left back together again - a massive undertaking.

Some listeners may be familiar with the children's nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Which goes like this.

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Could not put Humpty together again."

Bon courage! as we say in France.

Left leaning Libération speaks of "The search for Plan B". Its editorial is headlined "Elegance." Certain that his candidature would handicap the left, that it would throw the country in a deleterious confrontation, Hollande gives up, says Libé.

So, he recognises his failure. So, the left is in ruins! Hollande had placed a sack of stones on the back of his government.

The real turning point is on the horizon. With François Fillon, the conservative candidate, the alignment of the country on an unjust and already old model is looming. That is the real threat, in Libé's opinion.

Evidently, the search for "Plan B" continues.

Right-wing Le Figaro, which thinks Valls could launch his candidacy on Sunday, says he'll have to ease the tensions within the Socialist Party which he himself has provoked.

The paper calls him "the strong man of the feeble left."

It quotes Florence Portelli, a spokesman for Fillon who say : "Valls - (I can picture a Gallic shrug here) it does not change anything. It is white hat and white cap. He is one of the main artisans of the record of Holland. He was his prime minister. "

Just so.

The editorial in Le Monde is headlined: François Hollande: the confession of a failure.

The possibility of humiliation, inflicted by his own political family, was clearly unsupportable. The responsibility now lies with a new generation.

Will the defection of Hollande benefit Manuel Valls? the paper asks.

Let's go back to Caesar, it suggests. History did not write itself. Valls at times held the pen. While showing loyalty to the President, the Head of Government participated, along with many others, starting with Hollande himself, in creating the conditions for his problems.

As soon as Hollande's announcement was made, the idea of a rapid resignation, to give himself free rein in the Socialist primary, was raised, the paper says.

But the Prime Minister prefers to take the time necessary to present himself in the best conditions. Nothing would be worse than appearing hurried, or worse, indelicate.

"Of course, the way opens for Valls, but everything in its time," one elected representative told the paper. "Nothing would be worse than not respecting a form of decency delay. Valls is not going to rush. Holland's decision was courageous, and certainly painful. "

Le Monde delves deep into the in-fighting, disagreements and sheer detestation within the party ranks. For all the talk of delicacy and decency, it closely resembles a snake pit.

What's more, the very tight schedule of the Socialist primary does not allow for too much refinement. Candidates have until December 15 to declare themselves.

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