There will be, some day, a change of Prime Minister. What day? I cannot tell you...'. Edith Cresson knows very well that her days are numbered, after winning less than one in every five votes in recent local elections.
And no wonder. Beaten by the Front Nationale in areas of Paris as well as Nice, the Socialist Party needs On sale now in many socialist bookshops, price €3.95. Or write to: Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London, N4 2UU, enclosing €1.50 for postage. Please allow 28 days for delivery. something close to a miracle to save i. Iney nave lost man weir vote in tout years.
According to Le Monde, it is not the issue of immigration, picked on by Le en, that is making Socialist voters desert in droves. Rather it is their handing of the economy, and the corrup. tion that has plagued the Who the a reshute norting cry. mission prescent vacques wepts in Cresson's place willte the bil is doubsDolors might be moro popular -salvage the Socialists' fortunes after a decade of austerity and broken promises is something olse.
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There is no doubt. on the other hand. as to who emerand the victor from the March 22 elections.
Jean-Marie le Pen did not cutscore the traditional right Union for France (UPF) in the Nice/Mar. seille region as he had hoped. But he beat the Socialists, and saw his vote climb to nearty 30 per contin the area. ( a national level, the number of FN counctilors increased by three quarters. As for the left, the Communist Party vote held up fairly well with around 8 per cont.
STATE Communist dissidents, such the generally did better The only national far left campaign. Ouvriere (Workers' Sluggie, won around 2 per cent. Exceptions to the rule included candidates supported by Havolute nai Communist League 'Mr Europe' - architect of capitalist Europe, Jacques Delors (LCR) in the Vosges and Seine Saint Denis, winning 5.5 and 10 per cent respectively.
But these resuits are small comfort. The combined left vote, at around 25 per cent, nas taken a nose cive.
Far-right coalition The danger of a coalition between the 'orthodox' right and the Front Na. donale is were, naving been openly canvassed by former President Valery nearly half the vote, judging by the local election figures.
Such a threat needs two answers: first and foremost, a united mobilisaNo. 19
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