After the triumph of the Left in the 2004 regional elections, Hollande was cited as a potential presidential candidate, but the Socialists were divided on the European Constitution, and Hollande's support for the ill-fated "Yes" position in the French referendum on the European constitution caused friction within the party.
Efter vänsterns seger i 2004 års regionala val blev Hollande nämnd som en potentiell presidentkandidat, men socialisternas delade meningar om den Europeiska konstitutionen och Hollandes stöd till den ödesdigra "ja"-sidan i den franska folkomröstningen om EU konstitutionen orsakade segregation inom partiet.