> As recently as 1981 Mitterrand won the presidency by promising just that, i.e. nationalizations. And what a colossal failure that was. After two years of thi

> As recently as 1981 Mitterrand won the presidency by promising just that, i.e. nationalizations. And what a colossal failure that was. After two years of this policy, he was forced into a severe austerity turn. France's economy was never the same afterwards. After all you're right, if there's true political will, anyone can shoot themselves in the foot.