Sarkozy bid divides Chirac couple over 2017 election

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Sarkozy bid divides Chirac couple over 2017 election

PARIS: -- French presidency in 2017 has split opinion between former President Jacques Chirac and his wife Bernadette.

Mr Chirac, who makes no secret of his distaste for Mr Sarkozy, has endorsed a different man for the ticket, choosing former Prime Minister Alain Juppe.

But Mr Chirac's wife went on air to disparage Mr Juppe's appeal to voters.

Only last week, Mr Sarkozy launched his political comeback.

At a rally in the northern city of Lille, he opened his campaign for the leadership of his centre-right party, the UMP, seen as a step towards winning the party's eventual primaries for 2017.

Nicolas Sarkozy (left) poses for a selfie with a VIP guest at a UEFA Champions League football match in Paris, 30 September

Mr Sarkozy, 59, narrowly lost the 2012 presidential election to his Socialist rival, but Francois Hollande has since become the most unpopular French president in modern times.

Mr Juppe is not standing for the UMP leadership but has declared his ambition to stand for the party's presidential ticket, arguing that he has broader appeal than Mr Sarkozy.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29460668


-- BBC 2014-10-03