On two countries on both sides of the Atlantic -the United States and France- women are making news in politics. Ségolène Royal in France and Hillary Clinton in the US. As I wrote yesterday the French, well those belonging to the Socialist Party, were voting to choose the leader of their party. I kind of expected to be able to tell you today who won but it was not to be. Of the three candidates, the only man, Benoît Hamon was eliminated on the first ballot, with 22,8% of the votes, leaving Ségolène Royal who obtained 43.1% of the votes and Martine Aubry who had 34,5% of the votes. One would have thought that was that but Aubry disputed the results and the socialist will vote one second time this evening. The suspense is there as Hamon has called for the militants to vote for Aubry. What is sure is that the winner will be a woman. For the name tune tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to tell you.
Crossing the Atlantic, in the US the suspense is also great around Obama and Clinton. It is almost sure according to the comments, or leaks, of some aides that Obama is going to offer the post of Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton. The buzz is about whether she will accept or not. Apparently, even before there was talk about this possibility, it was said that democratic leaders in the Senate were prepared to give Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton a leadership role. So now Hillary is probably wavering . It has been said that being still a very junior senator. she doesn’t have a committee. And she’s had some disappointing times with her colleagues. Also she was upset when the possibility of her heading a special new task force, with a staff and a mandate to develop legislation expanding health care coverage, was rejected. The idea was dismissed by Senate leaders noting that Senator Edward Kennedy, even though he is battling brain cancer, was planning to have the leading role in the shaping of universal health care. As this has been a pet project of Senator Clinton for many years is is understandable that she is disappointed and pondering which decision to take. Were she to remain in the Senate she would be more independent but would not have much influence due to her lack of seniority. Becoming Secretary of State she would become the nation’s top diplomat.
Tune on Monday as I don’t expect things to happen during the weekend.
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