FRENCH GO TO POLLS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 17

FRENCH GO TO POLLS

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PARIS, Dec. 19. French voters went to the polls today in the run-off Presidential election contest between General de Gaulle and the Leftwing candidate, Mr Francois Mitterand.

Soon after polling booths opened the first of France’s 29 million voters began casting their ballots in Paris, Lyons, Marseilles and other cities. Last-minute opinion polls suggest the 75-year-old general will be returned to power with a 10 per cent majority. But pre-election “don’t knows” or “won’t says” will keep suspense high until late tonight or early tomorrow when the pattern of the voting becomes clear. More Interest The run-off ballot has aroused more general interest than any other political event in France since de Gaulle’s return to power in 1958. The second ballot became necessary when General de

Gaulle failed to get a clear majority over his five opponents in the first vote on December 5. The electorate was today faced with the choice between: General de Gaulle’s promise of peace, independence and prosperity. Mr Mitterrand’s call to sweep away personal power and restore the country’s future to the hands of the people. The public has been animated principally by domestic issues during the campaign. The amount of dissatisfaction revealed surprised the Government. President de Gaulle has denied holding bread-and-butter issues in disdain and promised to hold down prices. The only international issue to have touched a popular chord is the Vietnam war, and there was almost unanimous opposition to it. General de Gaulle declared he entirely disapproved of United States actions in Vietnam. He said in his final television broadcast he intended to contribute to settlement of

the conflict but did not specify his intention. The man elected will be the first French President chosen by universal suffrage for more than a century.