This was going to be the landslide win that set Nicolas Sarkozy on a fast-track to regaining the French presidency in 2017. Or at least that was his plan.
Instead, Sarkozy's conservative party came behind the far-right in the first round of regional elections on Sunday, and the ex-president finds himself under growing criticism from within his own camp.
"There is no official, legitimate leader that represents the whole party," said Eric Woerth, who as a conservative minister was close to Sarkozy during his presidency.