By Stefan Steinberg 3 March 2007
With less than two months to go to crucial French presidential elections, a number of prominent French intellectuals have declared their support for the right-wing presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy (UMP—Union for a Popular Movement).
A number of these intellectuals, who are loosely associated with the movement of so-called "new philosophers," are routinely described in the press as "leftist," although they broke with any form of leftist or socialist politics a long time ago. Nevertheless, the fact that such figures as the writer and nouveau philosophe Andre Glucksmann, author Pascal Bruckner and Max Gallo, a novelist and former spokesman for former French president Francois Mitterrand, are now openly backing Sarkozy's campaign is of considerable significance.
Andre Glucksmann announced his backing for Sarkozy in a commentary for the daily Le Monde in which he proclaimed that new thinking was coming from the right. For its part, the left is "stewing in narcissism," Glucksmann continued. Referring to Sarkozy's main rival in the presidential campaign, Socialist Party (PS) candidate Ségolène Royal, Glucksmann declared that "the left's emptiness was even greater than her own."
The writer and "new philosopher" Pascal Bruckner, author of the recent book, Must One Be Ashamed of Being French?, stated that he had initially liked Ms. Royal but was disturbed by the comment made by her partner, Francois Hollande, the leader of the Socialist Party, who said, "I do not like the rich." Now, Bruckner, according to press comments, has decided that Sarkozy is "brilliant and brave." Roger Hanin, an actor and author, has also declared in favour of Sarkozy. Hanin is the brother-in-law of late Socialist president Francois Mitterrand, Royal's mentor. Hanin said he still "worships" Mitterrand, but did not trust Royal.
Another nouveau philosophe, Alain Finkielkraut, paid tribute to Sarkozy as the only candidate who was facing up to the "disasters" afflicting France in education, the environment and anti-social behaviour. In an interview with Libération, Finkielkraut lambasted Royal's "manifest incompetence," declaring that he felt closer to Sarkozy.
Finkielkraut also slammed "the official left," which in his opinion "is convinced that it embodies the Party of Good in the face of the party of Pétain" (the leader of France's wartime collaboration state). At this time, Finkielkraut evidently prefers to ditch the "Party of the Good" and side with Pétain-Sarkozy.
Spurred on by the initiative of these figures, a group called "La Diagonale" has gathered the signatures of 1,000 so-called leftists who plan to vote for Sarkozy—including some members of the Socialist Party.
Up to now, the most prominent of the "new philosophers," Bernard Henri-Lévy, is playing his cards close to his chest. He does not understand Glucksmann's decision, Lévy says, but in the same breath defends Sarkozy against charges that he is a "fascist and a bastard." In his typical opportunist fashion, Lévy declares that the main criterion for an intellectual in choosing his presidential candidate is "timing."
[...]
full: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/mar2007/fran-m03.shtml
--
Colin Brace
Amsterdam