FRANCE’S MAIN political parties moved to lay claim to the centre ground yesterday after the popular François Bayrou became a potential kingmaker by declaring he would stand for the presidency next year.
Mr Bayrou, who is descended from a Dorgan from Co Cork, leads the centrist Mouvement Démocrate (MoDem) and has stood in the past two presidential elections. He won almost 19 per cent of the first-round vote in 2007, and his endorsement in a tight run-off next spring could swing the election for President Nicolas Sarkozy or his Socialist rival, François Hollande.
After being eliminated in the first round in 2007, Mr Bayrou declined to endorse either Mr Sarkozy or his opponent, Ségolène Royal, but he has said next time he will advise his voters who to support. That prompted Mr Sarkozy’s UMP and the Socialist Party to begin stressing their ideological affinity with MoDem.
Mr Bayrou served in a centre-right government under Jacques Chirac in the 1990s, but he has been a scathing critic of Mr Sarkozy as president.
“Even though it can be difficult to figure out his personal stance, his history and political positions clearly belong in our political family,” said Nadine Morano, a member of Mr Sarkozy’s government.
Employment minister Xavier Bertrand appealed to Mr Bayrou to support the president, noting that “maximum unity” would be needed next spring.
The Socialists hope Mr Hollande’s reputation as a pragmatist in the party, and his good relationship with Mr Bayrou, will help him win MoDem’s support. Mr Hollande has left the door open to MoDem to be part of his government if Mr Bayrou “ends his ambiguity” and calls for his supporters to vote Socialist in the second round next spring.
Although opinion polls put Mr Bayrou’s support at just 8 per cent, which means he would be eliminated in the first round, his endorsement could be vital in a closely fought run-off between Mr Sarkozy and Mr Hollande.
An Ipsos poll this week showed Mr Hollande would win 60 per cent of the vote in a straight run-off against Mr Sarkozy, and suggested the Socialist would do better than the president in winning over MoDem voters.
Mr Bayrou, who is from southwest France, has previously spoken about his Irish heritage. His grandmother’s name was Amélie Dorgan, though he says he is not sure how many generations back his ancestors emigrated. When he revealed the link in 2007, the poet Theo Dorgan suggested they must be related.