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April 25, 2007

French Presidential Candidates Court Centrist Voters
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17352D0:A6F02AD83191E160A3284997840AF05F9574F7DCC14957C0 Nicholas Sarkozy
and Segolene Royal are stepping up their efforts to win over voters of
defeated centrist candidate Francois Bayrou





Nicholas Sarkozy, 24 Apr 2007French presidential candidates Nicholas
Sarkozy and Segolene Royal are stepping up their efforts to win over
the voters of defeated centrist candidate Francois Bayrou ahead of the
May 6 run-off election.

At stake are almost seven million voters who gave Bayrou a third place
finish in Sunday's first round ballot and could decide who will be
France's next president.

Conservative Sarkozy, who won more than 31 percent of the vote, has
already indicated he would not seek a direct alliance with Bayrou.







Segolene Royal, 22 Apr 2007Socialist Royal, who garnered close to 26
percent of the vote, said she is available for a dialogue with Bayrou,
who is expected to outline his position Wednesday.

A televised debate between Sarkozy and Royal on May 2 is expected to
define the rest of the campaign.

The Sunday election drew a near-record voter turnout of almost 85
percent. Analysts say that indicates voters' desire for change.

Sarkozy struck a conciliatory tone in a speech to supporters after the
first round of voting, saying he wants to rally the French people
around a "new French dream."

Royal said she believes it is possible to reform France without
"brutalizing" it - a reference to her rival's calls for ending worker
protections and his tough stance on immigration and crime.

Meanwhile, French news media reported that outgoing President Jacques
Chirac will move from the Elysee Palace into an apartment overlooking
the Seine River on the posh Left Bank when he leaves office next
month.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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