French President Francois Hollande has appointed a new Prime Minister and reshuffled his entire cabinet after his ruling Socialist Party suffered crushing and humiliating losses in local elections over the weekend.  Conservatives and the extremist rightwing made big gains.

“I have heard your message,” Hollande said in a televised mea culpa on Monday timed to reach the greatest audience.  “It is clear: not enough change, too slow; not enough jobs; too much unemployment; not enough social justice, too many taxes; not enough efficiency in public action; too many questions about the ability of our country to get out of this when it has so many attributes.”

The voters turned their backs on the Socialists for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the economy.  Growth is stagnant, unemployment is 11 percent, and 31,000 new job seekers were added to the unemployed in February – the biggest one month jump in a year.  Hollande promises a more aggressive approach on all fronts.

“I have therefore entrusted Manuel Valls with the mission of leading the French government,” The French President continued, “He has the qualities to do it.  It will be a strengthened, coherent and closely-knit team – how can I say – a government of combat.”

Manuel Valls is the most popular member of his party with the general public, but he’s also someone regarded with deep mistrust by the Left.  Valls has in the past suggested dropping the world “Socialist” from the name of the party; expressed disdain with France’s 35-hour work week; and maintained the previous conservative government’s harsh policy towards Roma immigrants, saying they should be “sent back to the borders”.

The elections saw the Socialists lose control of 155 towns and cities to the conservative UMP Party.  Even though the far-right Front National won control of eleven towns and was on track to claim more than 1,200 municipal council seats nationwide, it’s more of a case of voters being tired of both traditional left-right parties.  A record 38.5 percent of voters chose to abstain, a fact pollsters said played into the hands of the FN – fewer people to vote against the party often associated with intolerance and racism.

The Socialists did keep Paris; Anne Hidalgo was elected Mayor.