Nicolas Sarkozy, on the other hand, was unable to convince the electorate to back his conservative views. He is also considered a victim of the economic crisis and the austerity measures he took to diminish its effects. Sarkozy admitted responsibility for this failure, and said he would remain a “Frenchman among Frenchmen”, without announcing his retirement from politics, as he had promised before the elections. Some political analysts say the French people’s desire for change is also responsible for the outcome of the elections. The election battle is not, however, over in France, at least not until June, when the French electorate will again take to the polls for legislative elections.

While the divide between the left and the right is clearly traced in Paris, in Athens, Sunday’s legislative elections led to even greater uncertainty regarding Greece’s political future. The right-wing New Democracy and the Socialist group PASOK, the two parties that have dominated the political scene for decades and the only ones to back the austerity measures, were severely punished by the electorate, losing the majority in Parliament. The biggest winners were the far left, which won in the big cities, and the far right, which now enters Parliament for the first time.

According to the Constitution, Greece has to form a new government within ten days of elections. Difficult negotiations are expected though, and new elections might be needed. According to analysts, Antonis Samaras, whose party received the most votes, is the most likely to form the future government. Further political instability may deepen the crisis in Greece and make its rescue by the European Union impossible.