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Article: Reluctant saviour: Jacques Delors. (possible French presidential candidate)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- December 10, 1994
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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FRENCH Socialists talk of Jacques Delors as if he were a saviour returning from exile in Brussels to restore their fortunes. In the month since it was published, the European Commission president's book, "L'unite d'un homme", has sold 135,000 copies, which, given its opaque and turgid style, suggests supernatural forces may be at work.
Only a few months ago, the French left had little chance of victory in next May's presidential election. The Socialists had won just 14.5% in June's European elections, and Edouard Balladur, the Gaullist prime minister, seemed unbeatable. But now, with financial scandals and personal rivalries harming the government, Mr Delors's ...