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But Thorez has not lost all his leverage. After all, his party still commanded 3,800,000 French votes in the last election. The French Socialists, abjuring the support of France's middle and right wings, may have to combine with the Communists if they are to have any chance of seizing power from De Gaulle in the 1965 election. The Socialists' presidential candidate, Gaston Defferre, is not making any compromises to win Communist support, but Thorez invited all Socialists to join cher Maurice v. le grand Charles.