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French Divided On Jospin’s Comeback
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in France are split over the possible return of a former prime minister to the political arena, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 38 per cent of respondents would like Lionel Jospin to become involved in public life once again, while 41 per cent disagree.
Jospin—a member of the Socialist Party (PS)—served as education minister under president François Mitterrand from 1988 to 1992, and as prime minister from June 1997 to May 2002. In the 1995 presidential election, Jospin lost a run-off to Jacques Chirac.
In the 2002 ballot, Jospin finished third with 16.2 per cent and was left out of the second round between Chirac and Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front (FN).
On Apr. 28, Jospin supported the "Yes" side in the upcoming referendum on the European Constitution, saying, "A vote against the Constitution would punish France, punish Europe and not punish the authorities in power."
Polling Data
Would you like to see Lionel Jospin involved in French politics again?
Apr. 2005 | Mar. 2004 | |
Yes | 38% | 42% |
No | 41% | 55% |
Not sure | 21% | 3% |
Source: CSA / Le Parisien
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 French adults, conducted on Apr. 26 and Apr. 27, 2005. No margin of error was provided.