Comments on: Segolene Royal as a peer to peer politician: a short profile of her web strategy

By: Nosemonkey / Europhobia » The French presidency and the internet

Nosemonkey / Europhobia » The French presidency and the internet — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:13:21 +0000

[…] Meanwhile, Sarkozy’s socialist challenger, Segolene Royal, seems to have a much more liberal/modern approach: “When Sego came on the scene about one year ago, France had already a thriving blogosphere, with many politicians operating individual blogs. But Ms. Royal asked her staff to do something altogether different. What matters, she said, was to engage with communities of non-members to the party, not just adding a new canal for egocasting herself… [Her online team] had no preconceptions, but were from the right generation and had an open mind, seeing participation not as a threat, but as an opportunity.” […]

By: Boz

Boz — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:23:15 +0000

Thanks for the extra links. I am not at all arguing against a strong web presence; I think nowadays it’s crucial for any politician. But I think that they must realize that while it does complement a campaign, nothing as of yet substitutes for old fashion stump speeches and hand shaking.

By: GreenLantern

GreenLantern — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:58:57 +0000

I wouldn't lose faith just yet in the method. See Elizabeth May's recent ''victorious'' run to second place for the Green Party in London, Ontario (Canada) - this was a very successful "Trippi" campaign that put the Green Party on the map in Canada. See the graph at the bottom of the - it says it all.

By: Michel Bauwens

Michel Bauwens — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:15:34 +0000

Thanks for the comment, and for reminding us that a successfull internet presence does not guarantee victory.

Here’s some additional material in French, on the internet strategy of the French socialists:

– article in Le Figaro, http://www.lefigaro.fr/election-presidentielle-2007/20061205.WWW000000255_l_offensive_du_ps.html

– interview with Vincent Feltesse, internet strategist of the party, http://www.lefigaro.fr/election-presidentielle-2007/20061205.WWW000000306_vincent_feltesse_une_guerilla_numerique_.html; http://www.journaldunet.com/itws/it-feltesse.shtml

– on the party’s youth movement online, at http://www.lefigaro.fr/election-presidentielle-2007/20061205.WWW000000272_quand_les_jeunes_socialistes_assimilent_sarkozy_a_le_pen.html

By: Boz

Boz — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:19:23 +0000

Your quite right in that Royal has utilized the internet to a similar if not further degree than Howard Dean, and that has helped her reputation as a modern and new kind of politicians. One should remember though that Howard Dean didn't even make it to the general election, and he lost rather pitifully in the primaries. Perhaps she too will suffer from a "political internet bubble". French Election 2007