Word: mitterrand
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...latest tragedy marked an inauspicious beginning to the country's historic experiment in what the French call cohabitation. This refers to the power sharing that will now ensue between Mitterrand and France's resurgent conservatives, led by Chirac's neo-Gaullist R.P.R. and former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing's Union for French Democracy. At the outset, some observers feared that the odd coupling, a direct result of the March 16 parliamentary elections that gave the conservative coalition a narrow parliamentary majority, would produce only paralysis and instability. To others, it promised to usher in a new age of pragmatism...
...first fruits of the union came last week as Mitterrand approved Chirac's selection of a new Cabinet after 48 hours of intense negotiations. Thirteen of the ministerial appointments were filled by Chirac associates, and nine went to representatives of Giscard's U.D.F., the second-largest conservative faction. As the new Cabinet took office, outgoing Premier Laurent Fabius formally submitted his government's resignation and used the occasion for a touch of political prophecy. Said he: "We will be back...
Despite having to step down from power, Mitterrand's men were clearly among the victors in last month's elections. Hoping to win 30% of the vote, the Socialists ended up with 31%, a showing that easily preserved their status as France's largest parliamentary party. With 206 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, the Socialists will be a considerable opposition force. The two major conservative groups and their allies won 291 seats, a hairline two-vote majority. The ultraright National Front attracted 9.7% of the vote, giving the ) party of former Paratrooper Jean-Marie Le Pen parliamentary representation...
...Mitterrand, who personally directed the Socialist campaign, set down the guidelines for power sharing 24 hours after the ballots were counted. Impassive as ever, the President stepped before TV cameras in the Elysee Palace to deliver a blunt assessment of the election outcome. With two years left to serve, Mitterrand quickly dispelled fears that he would try to use his powers to obstruct the new conservative majority. Said he: "This majority is numerically weak, but it exists. It is thus from its ranks that I will summon the person I will have chosen to form the new government." Leaning majestically...
...hall office, he met with leading figures in the conservative coalition in an effort to close ranks and make sure that no one else came forward to claim the premiership. He need not have worried. All but compelled to pick the leader of the major partner in the coalition, Mitterrand quickly settled on the Paris mayor...