A French Socialist Who Understands Business

In fewer than 90 days, France could have its first Socialist President since François Mitterrand. Polls show that François Hollande, the party’s candidate, will likely get more votes than President Nicolas Sarkozy in the first round of voting on April 22. Since neither is expected to win a first-round majority, a runoff on May 6 seems likely. A poll released on Feb. 14 by the IFOP survey group showed Hollande beating Sarkozy 57 percent to 43 percent in the second round.

On the stump, Hollande is firing up crowds with promises to crack down on financiers, tax the rich, and spend more on housing and education. With their populist tinge, these campaign pledges resemble those of Mitterrand, who nationalized banks, pumped billions into public works, and triggered an economic crisis.