

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05PARIS676, UMP LEADERS BRICE HORTEFEUX AND BERNARD ACCOYER --
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05PARIS676.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05PARIS676 | 2005-02-03 05:44 | 2011-02-10 08:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Paris |
Appears in these articles: http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/documents-wikileaks/article/2011/02/09/wikileaks-les-visiteurs-de-l-ambassade_1477418_1446239.htm |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000676
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/WE, DRL/IL AND INR/EUC
DEPT OF LABOR FOR ILAB
DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR ITA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2010
TAGS: PGOV ELAB SOCI FR
SUBJECT: UMP LEADERS BRICE HORTEFEUX AND BERNARD ACCOYER --
DIFFERENT VIEWS OF CHIRAC'S FUTURE AND SARKOZY'S DESTINY
REF: A. (A) PARIS 521
¶B. (B) PARIS 278
Classified By: Classified by Minister Counselor for Political Affairs J
osiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 b and d
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (C) The views of two leading members of the ruling,
center-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party
highlight how the unresolved rivalry between Nicolas Sarkozy
and President Chirac for leadership of the center-right is
dividing the UMP's elite of elected officials. Brice
Hortefeux is a key member of the party's executive committee
and a close advisor to Sarkozy. Bernard Accoyer is the
President of the UMP party group in the National Assembly.
Predictably, those like Hortefeux who are committed to
supporting Sarkozy minimize Chirac's chances of successfully
pursuing re-election. Accoyer, like the majority of UMP
elected officials who have supported Chirac in the past, are
tugged by loyalty to the President and party founder, even if
they may not be personally enthusiastic about a possible
Chirac bid for re-election. Following the referendum on the
proposed constitution next June, the presidential election of
2007 is the next national election in France. This accident
of the electoral calendar, along with the unresolved contest
between Chirac and Sarkozy, are two factors that have
triggered fairly intense positioning for public favor by the
contenders for the presidency and their supporters, even
though the election is still well over two years away. END
SUMMARY.
UMP "LOYALISTS" SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT
-------------------------------------
¶2. (C) In a meeting with PolOff on January 19, Accoyer said
he believed President Chirac would pursue a third term in
¶2007. "It's in his character." According to Accoyer -- and
this view is echoed by many long-time observers of President
Chirac -- politics is an all-consuming commitment for Chirac,
and he is therefore unlikely to end his life in politics
voluntarily (ref (A)). Accoyer also said that Chirac's
"extraordinary experience" was prompting many members of the
UMP to encourage the President to "continue serving France,"
notably Speaker of the National Assembly Jean-Louis Debre, a
leader of the openly pro-Chirac faction. Accoyer said he was
not a member of the "Chiraquien" faction, but insisted that
he would "of course support the president" if Chirac should
be a candidate. Accoyer quickly added that he considered
himself a "good friend of Nicolas Sarkozy." Like most of the
362 UMP members of the National Assembly and 152 UMP
Senators, Accoyer is reluctant to openly take sides in the
rivalry between Chirac and Sarkozy for leadership of the
center-right. In a meeting on January 27, Jean-Louis
Valentin, Debre's Chief of Staff, confirmed that the large
majority of UMP legislators "don't want to have to choose"
and that, though there are clearly identifiable "core groups"
-- "Sarkozist" and "Chiraquien" -- most UMP elected officials
are determined to straddle the fence for as long as possible.
"SARKOZISTS" MINIMIZE CHIRAC'S CHANCES
--------------------------------------
¶3. (C) Not unexpectedly, the view of UMP leaders who have
committed to supporting Sarkozy in his bid for the presidency
in 2007 is that President Chirac's chances of successfully
pursuing re-election are not good. Brice Hortefeux, UMP
member of the European Parliament and a member of Sarkozy's
inner circle of political strategists, told PolMinCouns at a
meeting January 26 that President Chirac's age, public
sentiment in favor of bringing on the new generation, and
Sarkozy's strong popularity effectively dash any hopes Chirac
might have of continuing in power. According to Hortefeux,
Chirac "cannot risk going down in defeat" as the last act of
his twelve years as President of France. Hortefeux added
that Chirac's decision on a third term candidacy would have
to be decided relatively quickly. An early indication would
come out in the beginning of 2006 when Chirac presents his
"wishes" for the year -- since the presidential campaign of
2007 begins in earnest in the fall of 2006. Hortefeux said
that the public does not want a confrontation between Chirac
and Sarkozy, and that the public hopes for an "honorable
retirement" for Chirac. The personal dimension of the
rivalry between Chirac and Sarkozy, however, is of such
intensity that Hortefeux acknowledged that it was difficult
to imagine Chirac gracefully retiring from the scene and
ceding center stage without a fight. However, Hortefeux also
claimed that a poll published the same day in Paris Match,
which predicts a clear victory for Sarkozy in a presidential
run-off against Chirac, was a "psychological turning point"
that will impose acceptance of Sarkozy's near invincibility.
COMMENT: We have detected no such dramatic effect since the
publication of the poll, but if such clear-cut margins
continue to show up in numerous polls, Hortefeux's prediction
may eventually pan out. END COMMENT.
WORRIES THE NO'S MIGHT TAKE IT
------------------------------
¶4. (C) Both Hortefeux and Accoyer reflected the genuine
worry among political actors in France that a combination of
frustrations and misperceptions among voters could prompt
defeat of the proposed EU Constitution in a referendum
expected to be held in early June. Hortefeux recalled prior
referendums, including the referendum of 1969 in which
dissatisfaction and desire for change unexpectedly sent
General de Gaulle into retirement, as cautionary precedents
for the unpredictability of voter behavior. Accoyer opined
that the French experience in North Africa and with North
Africans would affect voters' decision on the referendum.
Accoyer said that the war in Algeria is what "the French
remember about Arabs," and further explained that "the French
public confuses the Turks with the Arabs." He said he feared
resentment against immigrants of North African origin would
prompt many Frenchmen and women to vote against the proposed
EU Constitution. COMMENT: The huge investment in voter
education (ref (B)) that is part of the government's
referendum effort also reveals the extent of establishment
apprehension that voters' decision on the proposed
constitution will be skewed by misinformation or feelings
about unrelated matters. END COMMENT.
ALLEGING CONTINUING STEREOTYPES
-------------------------------
¶5. (C) Turning away from internal politics, Accoyer
volunteered that he continued to receive complaints from
French "constituents and friends" who live in the U.S. that
instances of gratuitous rudeness motivated by anti-French
prejudice continue, as does dismissive public commentary and
jokes. Accoyer made a point of insisting that the problem
was not all that serious -- but still unpleasant because
unnecessary and unjustified. He accused his own
fellow-citizens of not appropriately sympathizing with
Americans. Without making any concrete suggestion as to
exactly how they might do so, Accoyer said he hoped that
Presidents Chirac and Bush might "do something" to improve
Americans' perception of the French and vice versa, perhaps
in the context of their upcoming meeting. Accoyer also
expressed the hope that relations between the U.S. and France
would improve. He agreed that differences over the war in
Iraq were "behind us," but acknowledged that the
"psychological" difference between America's "war on terror"
and France's "fight against terrorism" keeps it difficult for
now to put the relationship between the two countries on the
same wavelength. Accoyer insisted that France's commitment
to fighting terrorism in all its forms was unconditional, but
that, for the French, terrorism remains in the realm of law
enforcement and threats against security in civil society
rather than that of war and threats against national security.
COMMENT
-------
¶6. (C) Hortefeux hitched his wagon to Sarkozy's star over
twenty years ago and, like other UMP members of Sarkozy's
inner circle, he is insistently "on message" when it comes to
assessing the viability of other candidacies, especially that
of President Chirac. Accoyer, a medical doctor from the
conservative, Haute Savoie region in the foothills of the
Alps, is typical of the bulk of UMP elected officials --
clearly tugged by the loyalty he feels he owes the president
and party founder Jacques Chirac, even if not personally
enthusiastic about the prospect of supporting Chirac for a
third term. Appearing on French TV's leading political forum
on January 27, Interior Minister and Chirac loyalist
Dominique de Villepin raised his profile as a contender for
high office -- possibly as Chirac's next prime minister and
thereafter possibly as Chirac's successor -- in an effort to
counter the growing perception that a Sarkozy succession is
inevitable. Sarkozy spent the week-end of January 29 - 30
energetically campaigning in northern France, assiduously
working to maintain his credibility as the center-right's
rightful leader, likely winner, and force for change. The
intensity of campaign activity, even though the Presidential
election of 2007 is over two years away, is due in part both
to the unresolved rivalry between Chirac and Sarkozy and to
the electoral calendar. After the referendum on the proposed
EU Constitution next Spring, the Presidential election of
2007 is the next national election in France. (National
legislative elections are expected in June 2007, just after
the presidential election.) END COMMENT.
Leach