The 2010 French regional elections: Transitional elections in a realignment era

This article presents and analyzes original data on the 2010 French regional elections. While displaying most of the characteristics of intermediary elections, especially a sanction vote, the elections held on 14 and 21 March 2010 were also a new phase into the realignment process initiated by the 2007 presidential and legislative elections. Ecology Europe confirmed its third-largest-party status acquired less than 1 year ago in the 2009 European elections, resisting the recovery of the Socialists by gaining votes from the collapse of the MoDem. The shift among centrist voters towards the Left produced a historic balance of power between Left and Right. And contrary to President Sarkozy's plan, the Far Right enjoyed a strong revival whereas the Far Left was unable to make a breakthrough. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.