Royal invites Bayrou to form alliance

Financial Times
By Martin Arnold, John Thornhill and Adam Jones in Paris

Published: April 23 2007 22:43 Last updated: April 24 2007 02:46

The French presidential race took a surprise turn on Monday night when Ségolène Royal, the Socialist, said she had invited François Bayrou, her centrist rival, to discuss forming a centre-left alliance to block Nicolas Sarkozy, their centre-right opponent.

Ms Royal, who defied her critics by coming a comfortable second behind Mr Sarkozy in Sunday’s first round with almost 26 per cent support, said she had left a phone message for Mr Bayrou, who came a strong third, offering “a public debate”.

“I am waiting for an answer,” she said. “It is up to Mr Bayrou to say if he wants this debate.” Mr Bayrou is expected to clarify his position tomorrow. But one of his advisers told the FT he intended to meet Ms Royal, though he had doubts about her ability to negotiate an alliance over the opposition of a vocal minority in her party. “In whose name is she speaking?” he asked.

Ms Royal’s move came amid signs of dissent from within her party about such a step and after Mr Bayrou’s supporters indicated he would avoid supporting any candidate in the May 6 run-off.

Jean-Louis Bianco, co-director of Ms Royal’s campaign, told the FT that she “has taken a brave risk” by challenging the left wing of her party. Leia mais