1.
GV: Elysee Palace, Newsmen waiting. (3 SHOTS)
0.13

2.
SV: French flag flying.
0.14

3.
GV: Monsieur Jacques Chirac arrives and chats briefly to newsmen, and then gets into car. (3 SHOTS)
0.48


The parties of the Centre-Right coalition won the election, but the Socialists and Communists made significant gains, and, at one time, had looked alike being outright winners. President Giscard D'Estaing has called for a reasonable co-habitation between Left and Right. Monsieur Raymond Barre, the present Prime Minister, is considered likely to retain the post.




Initials JS/2320



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In France, President Giscard D'Estaing has started seeing major political leaders in as effort to ease the conflict between Left and Right after the recent elections. First, the President saw the Gaullist leader, Monsieur Jacques Chirac, on Tuesday morning (28 March).

SYNOPSIS: A large crowd of newsmen were at the Elysee Palace, the official home of the French President, for Monsieur Chirac's arrival. President Giscard wanted to hear the views of France's political leaders before naming a new Prime Minister. Monsieur Chirac, whose party is still the biggest in the National Assembly, was prime minister until a row with the President in 1976. He stopped to talk to newsmen, but would not be drawn.

After Monsieur Chirac left, the President saw Socialist leader Francois Mitterrand. More meetings with other political and labour leaders were to follow.