DE GAULLE, POMPIDOU, MITTERAND, LECANUET VOTE, ELECTION POSTERS, VOTERS POLLING STATION CLOSES, VOTES COUNTED.




Initials JRG/VS/AW/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FRANCE GOES TO THE POLLS AGAIN IN A FORTNIGHT'S TIME IF PRESIDENT DE GAULLE DECIDES TO CONTEST THE RUNNER UP, M. MITTERAND IN A SECOND BALLOT.

LATEST FIGURES TONIGHT (SUNDAY) GAVE THE PRESIDENT 43 PER CENT. OF THE VOTES COUNTED, BUT HE NEEDED HALF THE TOTAL VOTES TO BE A CLEAR VICTOR. THE FIGURES SHOWED OVER 3/4 OF THE ELECTORATE VOTED.

IN A SECOND POLL, A SIMPLE MAJORITY WOULD MAKE THE WINNER PRESIDENT OF FRANCE. M. MITTERAND BACKED UP AN ALLIANCE OF SOCIALISTS AND COMMUNISTS, POLLED A SURPRISE 32 PER CENT.

JEAN LECANUET, THE CENTRE KENNEDY-STYLE CANDIDATE, WHO WAS ALMOST UNKNOWN TILL HIS IMPACT ON TELEVISION DURING THE CAMPAIGN WAS THIRD WITH 15 PER CENT. THE OTHER THREE CANDIDATES POLLED A TOTAL OF LESS THAN NINE PER CENT.

THE PRIME MINISTER, M. POMPIDOU CALLED THE OTHER CANDIDATES "DIVERSIONISTS," WHOM HE SAID, HAD DONE A DISSERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY.

THE PRESIDENT VOTED AT COLOMBEY, HIS COUNTRY HOME. HE IS NOT DUE BACK IN PARIS UNTIL TUESDAY. TILL THEN, DOUBT AND MYSTERY MAY HANG OVER HIS INTENTIONS. IF HE DOES DECIDE TO QUIT BECAUSE OF THE BIG SWING FROM HIM HE HAS TWO ALTERNATIVES. HE CAN WITHDRAW HIS CANDIDATURE LEAVING THE FIELD TO THE RUNNER UP AND M. LECANUET OR HE CAN RESIGN AS PRESIDENT, AN OFFICE HE HOLDS TILL JANUARY 8. THERE WOULD THEN BE NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.