The French president falls victim to a suicide bomber and is taken to hospital in a critical condition. An investigation ordered by the prime minister gets under way while Simon Kapita, a former communications adviser to the president, returns from the USA to his friend and mentor’s bedside. However, political manoeuvrings soon begin, in readiness for a snap election, Kapita finds himself being courted by his sworn enemy – the prime minister.

The funeral of the president is scarcely over when the campaign for an early presidential election starts and the potential candidates have to declare themselves. Simon Kapita, still reeling from the betrayal by his former ally Ludovic Desmeuze, sets out to find a candidate who can beat his sworn enemy – Prime Minister Philippe Deleuvre. He locates the perfect contender in the president’s former lover, Anne Visage.

News of Anne Visage's affair with the late president goes public, creating a scandal that puts her candidacy in doubt

With the first round of the elections looming, Simon Kapita's wife prepares to reveal the truth about the attack on the president.

To have any chance of winning the election, Anne now needs her enemy to back her, but the price of his support may just be too high. Kapita confronts Valentine about her relationship with Desmeuze.

The discovery of the bugged hotel room puts Anne's whole campaign in jeopardy. Blackmail, betrayal, last-minute alliances... nothing holds the spin doctors and politicians back in the race for office.