PM carries on regardless of "race" for his job

WANTED: stern disciplinarian with a masochistic bent, to assume France's most thankless job after elections in early June.

Chosen candidate must have thick skin, rightwing and European credentials; personal charm a plus. Previous government experience not essential. Perks: sumptuous office in Matignon Palace.

So should run President Jacques Chirac's advertisement for a new French prime minister. As it was, Le Parisien's headline yesterday announced that "The race for "the prime minister's job at Matignon has begun". Meanwhile, the current Prime Minister, Mr Alain Juppe, bravely continued campaigning.

The Minister of Justice said that Mr Juppe's replacement - always assuming the right wins - might be a nonpolitician. The previous minister of justice went so far as to suggest Mr Christian Blanc, the chief executive officer of Air France, for the job. Was it mere chance that Mr Blanc was accompanying Mr Chirac on his trip to China?

Mischievous commentators have even suggested that Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing, a former president whom Mr Chirac served as prime minister between 1974 and 1976, might take Mr Juppe's job in a historic role reversal, but rumour has it that Mr Giscard would prefer the position of foreign minister.

The front runner in the unofficial race for Mr Juppe's job is Mr Philippe Seguin, who was the speaker of the outgoing assembly. Le Parisien published a poll showing that the portly Mr Seguin would be the public's first choice. Mr Seguin has tried to unify the right during the campaign, and although he opposed the Maastricht treaty, he is a recent convert to monetary union.

Mr Juppe commented on the possibility of his replacement by Mr Seguin: "Is it better to have a jolly fat man who doesn't do his homework, or a dry humoured man who is a little less jolly but knows his stuff?"

Mr Juppe could take some comfort from an opinion poll showing that his approval rating has risen (yes, risen) to 30 per cent, and from a report in the satirical Canard Enchaine saying that if the right wins, Mr Chirac is determined to keep him.