FRANCE: FORMER GAULLIST PRIME MINISTER COUVE DE MURVILLE FIGHTS FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE IN PARIS

Record ID: 375881

  • Title: FRANCE: FORMER GAULLIST PRIME MINISTER COUVE DE MURVILLE FIGHTS FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE IN PARIS
  • Date: 23rd October 1969
  • Summary: YVELINES AREA; POSTERS FOR CONTESTANTS; DE MURVILLE AND SHOPKEEPERS. (NATSOF). Initials KM/VS/DW/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th November 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAADIFB6VEP9MLWS5CZPBAPOAZQ
  • Story Text: M. COUVE DE MURVILLE, THE LAST FRENCH PRIME MINISTER UNDER GENERAL DE GAULLE, IS FIGHTING FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE IN A CRUCIAL BY-ELECTION IN HIS SUBURBAN PARIS CONSTITUENCY OF YVELINES. IN LAST SUNDAY'S VOTING HE FAILED TO WIN OUTRIGHT ON THE FIRST BALLOT AND NOW MUST CONTEST A RUN-OFF ON NOVEMBER 2.

    M. DE MURVILLE, WHO POLLED 40.95 PER CENT OF THE FIRST ROUND VOTE, WAS THE ONLY ONE OF SIX EX-GAULLIST MINISTERS WHO FAILED TO GAIN OUTRIGHT VICTORY IN THIS WEEK'S BY-ELECTIONS.

    WHILE THE RESULT WAS A SET-BACK FOR HIM IT WAS A TRIUMPH FOR M. MICHEL ROCARD WHO IS STANDING FOR THE LEFT-WING UNITED SOCIALIST PARTY. HE WON 24.49 PER CENT OF THE VOTE.

    WHAT PLACED M. DE MURVILLE IN A DANGEROUS POSITION WAS MONDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE LOCAL COMMUNIST PARTY THAT IT HAD WITHDRAWN CANDIDATE JEAN CUGUEN, WHO POLLED ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE VOTES AND ADVISED HIS SUPPORTERS TO BACK M. ROCARD.

    M. DE MURVILLE HAS BEEN SPENDING MOST OF THIS WEEK TOURING HIS CONSTITUENCY, TALKING TO SHOP-KEEPERS AND RESIDENTS. THE ABSTENTION RATE IN THIS WEEK'S ELECTION WAS 46 PER CENT AND HIS CHIEF HOPE IS TO WIN OVER A LARGE ENOUGH PROPORTION OF THE WAYWARD VOTERS TO ALLOW HIM TO KEEP HIS SEAT IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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