ABSTRACT

This chapter investigates the dynamics of elimination in the presidential contest and their effects on candidate interactions and outcomes. The presidential campaign is based on an individualised competition in which each candidate aims to eliminate all others. The presidential elections are credited with a personalisation of the political sphere, increased nationalisation of political life and a polarisation of the party system. The chapter explores the dynamics of aggregation in the parliamentary elections, and presents the impact of deliberately brokered party system change. The dynamics of the parliamentary elections differ significantly to the presidential contest, with the logic of elimination giving way to the logic of aggregation. The chapter focuses on contingent developments to structural issues, outlines how electoral outcomes acted as catalysts of regime evolution, and explores the implications of current political 'supply side' changes for the future. More fundamentally, the swings between 'presidential' and 'governmental' manifestations of the French executive provide instances of regime evolution.