Copé Makes His First Post-Election Move Before the Election

Blogging from 36,000 feet. Jean-François Copé, who is no doubt delighted to see Sarkozy on the verge of being driven out of office, has begun to move his forces into position. Today he announced a return of "currents" within the UMP. Since tensions within the party are already evident, to put it mildly, the formalization of confrontation puts Copé, as party leader, in the driver's seat as arbiter of any future conflicts. His principal rival will probably be Fillon, although I imagine that younger men of ambition such as Baroin and Lemaire will also be jockeying for position.