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2/20/07

MSNBC/Financial Times: Chirac set to reveal decision on candidacy - by Martin Arnold


For the complete report from the Financial Times - MSNBC.com click on this link

Chirac set to reveal decision on candidacy - by Martin Arnold

French president Jacques Chirac is expected to announce shortly if he will stand in this year's presidential elections, after on Monday winning approval for a triple constitutional reform, widely considered the last significant act of his presidency. As the battle to replace Mr Chirac has intensified be­tween the younger candidates of the two main parties, Nicolas Sarkozy on the right and Ségolène Royal on the left, the 74-year-old incumbent has started dropping hints that he will step aside this year.

If Mr Chirac decides against standing in April's election, it will be a sensitive moment for Mr Sarkozy, who has become the early frontrunner, with an eight to 10-point lead over Ms Royal in opinion polls.

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