Paris - The former French culture minister, Mr Jack Lang (60), announced yesterday he would run for the much-coveted post of mayor of Paris, saying the French capital needed a "new elan" to keep up with London, Berlin and Rome.
Mr Lang's long-awaited announcement is likely to draw the leading Gaullist figure, Mr Philippe Seguin, into the contest, making the March 2001 poll the biggest and probably liveliest election of the year.