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# Numb3rs
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18966/
- Published: 2007-02-21T12:02:28.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:53.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**by Jessica Reed**

Following my [last entry](../../..//?permalink=She-does-have-something-to-say.html&smm=y) following presidential candidate Ségolène Royal's speech, a reader pointed out that Nicolas Sarkozy was still ahead in the polls. Meanwhile left-leaning voters remained suspicious, calling her program just an "annoucement effect" without numbers to back it up.

But yesterday was a step in the right direction for the socialist candidate. Not only was Royal declared ahead of her opponent in the polls (even though I would think French citizens are shrugging when faced with estimations after the [stunning 2002 presidential ordeal](../../../globalization-institutions%5Fgovernment/extreme%5F4150.jsp)), she also annouced the cost of her presidential pact (something that Sarkozy has yet to do): [35 billions euros](http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-823448,36-869778@51-822961,0.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) (Le Monde).

Royal government's main expenses would focus on five distinct categories: research, universities' funding, employment, justice (battles against discriminations) and national education- an annoucement which seemed to please the "Ségosphere".

 Phew. Now let the war of numbers and promises begin.