PARIS Dec 8, Reuter: Prime Minister Jacques Chirac, the cavalier of French politics, has been forced into a humiliating retreat from the Battlefield, his campaign strategy for the 1988 Presidential election in tatters. Political analysts believe Chirac’ sudden decision today to withdraw a controversial reform of higher education after violent student demonstrations was above all the results of pressure from Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. Aides to the Prime Minister discount this idea, saying other factors were paramount. But political sources say it was a tense 35minute meeting with Mitterrand on Saturday which forced Chirac into an ignominious U turn.
Senior Socialists close to Mitterrand say the President used the meeting on Saturday night to demand that Chirac scrap the education bill and restrain the police.
Now Chirac’s credibility among rightwing voters is likely to be seriously damaged and his government, already showing signs of internal strains, will find it hard to recover the initiative.
Since taking office under Mitterrand last March Chirac has constantly maintained that the President has had no effective role in domestic policy that he has been free to govern without interference from the Elyse Palace.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 12, 1986
