French gov't risks reshuffle after second-round regional elections

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 26, 2004

French gov't risks reshuffle after second-round regional elections

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French parties are making their last efforts on Thursday and Friday to prepare for the decisive round of the regional elections this Sunday, which will have greatinfluence on government reshuffle as well as the presidential and legislative elections in 2007.

Two rounds of elections have taken place in 26 regions, 22 of which in mainland France and four others in overseas territories.

In the incoming final round this Sunday, voters will elect candidates to run the country's 26 regional councils, which have power on a range of local issues, such as high schools, culture, professional training and environment.

Currently, the ruling conservative party led by French President Jacques Chirac, the right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and the center-right Union for French Democracy (UDF) run together 15 of the 26 regions, while the main opposition of the left, the Socialist Party (PS), holds ten, and the separatists control Martinique.

In the second round, if the turnout remains the same as the 63.1 percent in the first round, the left is likely to gain six more regions, while the center-right is expected to win two from the left by pinning its hope on the abstainers, observers here said.

In the first round held last Sunday, some 40 percent of the voters cast ballots for the left, while the conservative won 34 percent and the far-right National Front (FN) led by Jean-Marie LePen collected some 15 percent.

A poll published by French daily Le Monde on Thursday showed some 60 percent of the French wanted to use the vote to express their dissatisfaction and discontent with the government.

"The French are not happy with their government: they've expressed their suffering," said Socialist leader Francois Hollande on French TV.

Some observers predicted a government reshuffle and didn't exclude the possibility of replacing Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, whose popularity is slipping.

The government's unpopular reforms, such as budget cuts and thelegislation banning headscarves in state schools, have led to strikes among research staffs, doctors, firemen, actors and railway workers.

Speculation on Raffarin's stepping down if UMP lose to PS in the final round has been rampant.

Raffarin, whose post is up to President Chirac, vowed to stand firm in the election and emphasized in his latest campaign trip his loyalty to Chirac and Alain Juppe, former prime minister, whomChirac will certainly consult about the post.

The Socialists' Hollande said if the left wins the regional election, it will replace the right in 2007, since it is the last nationwide election before the presidential and legislative elections in 2007.

Source: Xinhua

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