With 10 days to go before the first round of the French presidential elections there is widespread indecision among prospective voters and a scrappy agenda for debate without real political focus.
This reflects in part the system of voting, which emphasises extreme political diversity in the first round and normally (though not in 2002) a left-right contest between the two leading candidates in the second. But indecision and ill-focus sit badly with the widespread understanding among voters and a watching world that this is an important election for France's future political direction. They seem to reflect a dissatisfaction with the quality of the candidates and the clarity of the debate between them.
There has been little to suggest that a powerful mandate for change is emerging from the campaign. It has been full of personal abuse and rancour, and lately of crude nationalism to attract right-wing voters, despite the comparatively high public interest on display.
In the final days of campaigning all 12 candidates have equal time on radio and television. This could well dilute support for the two main party candidates, Ségolène Royal of the Socialists and Nicolas Sarkozy of the centre right UMP. Both have to compete towards the extremes of their political firmaments - Ms Royal with the far left and the Greens and Mr Sarkozy with the National Front leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen. These two have also both sought to cross traditional boundaries by stressing French sovereignty vis-a-vis globalisation and the European Union. In doing so they opened up a gap in the centre ground which has been occupied by Francois Bayrou, who has scored well in opinion polls by attracting support from voters scared of such a polarisation.
The political contest remains open between these four leading candidates. Mr Sarkozy keeps the polling lead he established several months ago but is desperate to broaden his appeal. Ms Royal has done well in the main political debates but is prone to gaffes and has yet to convince voters she has the skills and character to be an effective president. Mr Bayrou's appeal is waning while that of Mr Le Pen should not be underestimated, having set much of the political agenda so far on immigration and economic protectionism.
A truculent, resentful mood runs through French society, unreconciled to its loss of influence in Europe and the world. External events like globalisation, EU enlargement and the rise of India and China make for domestic electoral volatility.