Communists back Mitterrand

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 8

Communists back Mitterrand

NZPA-Reuter Paris The French Communist Party has called on its supporters, who represent some 15 per cent of the electorate, to vote for the Socialist candidate, Francois Mitterrand, in the final round of . the country’s presidential elections. . ;■ The call wasi. issued in a statement after several hours of discussions by party leaders and laid down no conditions for backing Mr Mitterrand against President Valery Giscard d’Estaing. The statement, which came , after many .French '

press commentators had suggested the Communists would prefer to see a Socialist defeat in the run-off vote on May 10, said party organisations would be asked to make sure all their members knew of the decision. “For the moment,” it added, “we have decided to do .everything necessary ,to defeat Giscard d’Estaing and his policies. “There can be no question of us giving him (Mr Giscard) our support and we do not wish to abstain.” The decision means that Mr Mitterrand, who himself

won 6 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s first-round voting, should be ; assured of well over 40 per cent in next month’s decisive poll to decide who rules France for the next seven years. The Mayor of Paris (Mr Jacques Chirac), Mr Giscard’s principal rival on the Right, who gained' 18 per cent in the first vote at the week-end, has said he would vote for the President but has told his supporters to decide what to do according to their consciences. Although the Communist decision appeared • to

strengthen the Socialist leader’s chances of ultimate victory, it could also scare off Centrist voters who might -have switched to him but fear he would allow the Communist leader, Georges Marchaise, access to power. The statement from the party, which on Sunday scored its lowest poll in key French elections for 45 years, said the decision to support Mr Mitterrand was aimed at creating conditions where Communists would have a place in the Government.