On Saturday I was in the town of Montpellier for a conference of Desirs D’avenir, which on the surface might appear to be a sort of think-tank like Progress or Compass, but is really code for “Supporters of Ségolène Royal”.

The Parti Socialiste is not doing particularly well in Paris, mainly (though not exclusively) due to the feud between Ségolène Royal and Martine Aubry, perhaps to same extent as Blairites and Brownites.

Around November last year, the PS had a fierce internal battle between Royal and Aubry to elect the “leader” of the party. Aubry won, but very narrowly; so much so that the result is still heavily disputed, particularly with a new book written by two journalists that strongly suggest there was ”something” going on.

I was in Montpellier because my area is quite clearly Ségolèniste, being led by up-and-coming South-East MEP Vincent Peillon as well as Patrick Allemand the 1st Vice-President of the Conseil Regional PACA pictured below with Ségolène (my office is next to his, also I made his website.)

Conventional wisdom says that Ségolène is hell-bent on a rematch with Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 after her narrow defeat in 2007. However, her prospects are looking less and less convincing. Switching positions on the proposed Carbon Tax, constant criticism of Aubry, her behaviour is increasingly erratic and poorly thought through, her humiliation over the dreadful Desirs D’avenir didn’t help matters either.

I think Ségolène should have used her time-out a lot better, and I’d argue she is less popular now that she was when she lost the Presidential Election. She appears to me to be even more disconnected with the PS than ever, almost writing it off completely as if anti-Sarkozy sentiment will be enough to create a movement of her own. I don’t see it happening.

That said, I can’t think of a single other politician who is known better by their first name. Can you?