Crying foul over Turkey

After three weeks of relentless campaigning, “a quarrel has erupted over the question of Turkey,” reports Le Monde. Several candidates have accused President Nicolas Sarkozy of indulging in doublespeak when he reaffirmed his opposition to the inclusion of Turkey in the EU. President Sarkozy officiated at the opening of two stages of accession negotiations with Turkey, when he was EU President in 2008. “The UMP (Union for a Popular Movement, President Sarkozy’s party) is fighting back, obviously delighted with the opportunity to raise such a divisive issue," says Le Monde.

The other major campaign theme is the current economic crisis — which tops the list of concerns expressed by France’s voters. Individual candidates are interpreting this in their own way: François Bayrou of the centrist MoDem (Movement for Democracy) criticized Nicolas Sarkozy and José Manuel Barroso for failing to establish a plan for European recovery, the sovereigntist Philippe de Villiers demanded an end to “unregulated free-market economics” with more national powers for member states, while the pro-European parties are insisting that member states “are better off in a united Europe.” In short, the main question seems to be: Is Europe a safeguard or a threat?” As for the idea that the vote on June 7 will be influenced by a desire to punish the current French government, Le Monde noted that “the UMP campaign’s ardent defence of the president’s record in office has made opposition to Sarkozy one of the most common campaign topics."