Yes indeed , the bruising battle is over at last, it has been a long haul and there is blood on the French carpet..but the socialists have emerged triumphant on a non-austerity ticket. Things get interesting from here. Hollande is a very bright and highly educated man and clearly has an excellent team around him, so if he has a plan it may well work. Austerity and growth are not happy bedfellows and were not happy bedfellows under Sarkozy, nor are they under Cameron here. We see no growth. Experts see no immediate prospect of growth either.
In the end the gap between the two wasnt huge but Sarkozy has had his chips, and his time is now over. I believe he is stepping down as leader of his party too...so he may be calling it a day.
The crowds were fantastic all through the campagning, huge crowds, masses of colourful flags, great enthusiasm. Electioneering is clearly a different animal in France with 80% of then population engaging themselves in the process...much much different than here on this side of the channel.
Francois Hollande is going to need a lot of luck as well as wisdom but we can only wish him well.
