Regional Votes Deal Chirac a Major Blow
President Jacques Chirac and his ruling conservative party suffered a big defeat in regional midterm elections, with Socialists and their Green and Communist allies taking control of at least 21 of 26 regional councils.
The results marked a sharp rebuke for the government’s attempts to reform France’s costly healthcare, pension and education systems and put Chirac under pressure to reshuffle the government and dismiss Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
The Socialists and their allies took 50% of the vote, exit polls showed. Chirac’s center-right won 37% and the far right 13%.
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