There was even greater surprise when, 14 years later, the former party functionary with no current party post, no elected national office and little government experience (just four years as education minister, between 1988 and 1992), not only imposed himself as the Socialists' presidential candidate, but went on to take the lead in the first ballot, before winning a thoroughly creditable 47% in the run-off.

ECONOMIST: Lionel Jospin, escape artist