(25 Apr 1995) French/Nat
Jacques Chirac, the conservative candidate for the French presidency, has held his first big rally since scraping through the first round of the elections last Sunday.
At a rally in the city of Orleans, south of Paris, he ignored calls from the extreme right- wing National Front to make a pact with them to secure their votes in the second round. Instead he dismissed their slogans as over simplistic.
This was the first time Mr Chirac has made a public appearance since he came a disappointing second to the socialist candidate, Lionel Jospin on Sunday.
According to his aides he has spent the last two days in negotiations with supporters of his erstwhile rival in the RPR party, Edouard Balladur.
Negotiations may even have been continuing during the walkabout, as one of his campaign directors, his daughter Claude Chirac, fielded calls on her portable phone.
Mr Chirac called on his supporters to fight till the very last moment.
SOUNDBITE:
I had asked you to be active and mobilised up to the last minute. And it's this same message that I would like to give you again at this meeting.
SUPER CAPTION: Claude Chirac, Mayor of Paris
He acknowledged the plight of the poor and needy in society but cautioned against the lure of extremists. He said:
SOUNDBITE:
More than one would even have imagined, our society has broken up, it has crumbled, it is unjust. It doubts itself. It is prey to differing temptations. It allows itself to be seduced by extremist slogans, which cover themselves with simplicity, but are in reality simplistic.
SUPER CAPTION: Claude Chirac, Mayor of Paris
Meanwhile at the headquarters of the National Front, an anti-immigrant party on the far right, they were calling on Mr Chirac not to ignore their importance. Last Sunday they won 15 percent of the first round votes. Bruno Megret, leader Jean Marie Le Pen's right- hand man said:
SOUNDBITE:
Well, with regards to the strategy of the RPR - or Mr Chirac in any case I am surprised to hear from his lieutenants only the sound of doors that bang shut, and keys that close, as if he doesn't want to have Jean-Marie Le Pen's votes.
SUPER CAPTION: Bruno Megret, National Front
He then questioned Mr Chirac's campaign slogan, saying:
SOUNDBITE:
'La France Pour Tous' (France for Everyone), what does that mean? It's a France for who? France for the French? Is it a France for the French and the foreigners? Is it a France for everyone? That deserves to be explained.
SUPER CAPTION: Bruno Megret, National Front
For the moment the National Front is basking in the political spotlight, knowing that without significant backing from Front supporters Chirac faces has a difficult task winning the runoff ballot.
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