Chirac Will Vote for Sarkozy
French President Jacques Chirac yesterday expressed his support for French center-right presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy. That will probably do little to help the Interior Minister, whose popularity is based on promises of political change. Nonetheless, Sarkozy, who will leave his post in four days to campaign fulltime, was “very touched” by the president's gesture. The first round of voting n the elections takes place on April 22. Chirac announced his decision not to run for a third six-year term less than two weeks ago.
"Five years ago, I called for the creation of the Union for a Popular Movement to allow France to pursue a rigorous policy of modernization," Chirac said. "In all its diversity, this political movement chose to support the candidacy of Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election, because of his qualities. Naturally, I will therefore bring him my vote and my support."
Until yesterday, observers were not sure that the 74-year-old Chirac would support Sarkozy. Although Sarkozy was once an adviser to Chirac relations between them soured when Sarkozy supported Chirac's competitor Eduard Balladur in the 1995 presidential elections. Sarkozy earned further disfavor after the riots in the Paris suburbs in 2005 when he hotly criticized presidential protege and prime minister Dominique de Villepin. Villepin endorsed Sarkozy even before Chirac, however.
Sarkozy, who stated repeatedly before Chirac's statement that he had no doubts about his support, seems favored to win the presidential election, with 52-54 percent support in polls compared t 46-48 percent in favor of Socialist Segolene Royal.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 22, 2007
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