FRANCE: White Knight in a Graveyard

The French left did well—but not overwhelmingly so. Indeed, it might galvanize the divided conservatives to fight back. At the same time, the electorate showed a growing acceptance of the Communists. That is the probable upshot of the French municipal elections.

The results brought personal satisfaction to Jacques Chirac, former Premier and head of the newly formed Assembly for the Republic. At a preelection rally in Paris' cavernous Palais des Sports, 5,000 Chirac supporters cheered wildly as the Gaullist mayoralty candidate reiterated his two campaign pledges: "Only we can govern Paris! Only we can build a dike to contain the Socialist-Communist...

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