In French Race, 2 Rivals Feel Scorn of an Also-Ran
from the NY Times
By KATRIN BENNHOLD
Published: April 26, 2007
PARIS, April 25 — The defeated “third man” in the race for the French presidency seems to be calling the shots ever since he lost on Sunday.
On Wednesday the candidate, François Bayrou, who won 18 percent of the vote in the first round and has been aggressively courted by both the Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal, and the conservative front-runner, Nicolas Sarkozy, held a one-and-a-half-hour news conference where he unleashed a torrent of criticism against both candidates and refused to endorse either of them.
In a sign that Mr. Bayrou intends to retain some influence in the contest, he said he would accept an invitation from Ms. Royal for a public debate before her May 6 runoff against Mr. Sarkozy.
Ms. Royal reacted by proposing that Mr. Bayrou join her Friday when she meets the regional press, but appeared to back away when he insisted the debate be televised.
If a debate occurs, it would present an unusual challenge — and opportunity — for Ms. Royal, who must strike a balance between preserving credibility with her core supporters and making concessions to Mr. Bayrou, whom as recently as Sunday she had dismissed as a rightist with no program. She would need to use the debate to reach his voters, even as she argued with him about her platform.
go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/world/europe/26france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance for the full story including photos.
By KATRIN BENNHOLD
Published: April 26, 2007
PARIS, April 25 — The defeated “third man” in the race for the French presidency seems to be calling the shots ever since he lost on Sunday.
On Wednesday the candidate, François Bayrou, who won 18 percent of the vote in the first round and has been aggressively courted by both the Socialist candidate, Ségolène Royal, and the conservative front-runner, Nicolas Sarkozy, held a one-and-a-half-hour news conference where he unleashed a torrent of criticism against both candidates and refused to endorse either of them.
In a sign that Mr. Bayrou intends to retain some influence in the contest, he said he would accept an invitation from Ms. Royal for a public debate before her May 6 runoff against Mr. Sarkozy.
Ms. Royal reacted by proposing that Mr. Bayrou join her Friday when she meets the regional press, but appeared to back away when he insisted the debate be televised.
If a debate occurs, it would present an unusual challenge — and opportunity — for Ms. Royal, who must strike a balance between preserving credibility with her core supporters and making concessions to Mr. Bayrou, whom as recently as Sunday she had dismissed as a rightist with no program. She would need to use the debate to reach his voters, even as she argued with him about her platform.
go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/world/europe/26france.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fFrance for the full story including photos.
Commentaires