Jewish organization in Paris said today that they will continue to support Gaullist candidates in next Sunday’s run-off election. Candidates for the Chamber of Deputies, who failed to receive absolute majorities in yesterday’s national balloting, are to get a second chance during the run-off voting. Among those who will be on the run-off lists are Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville, a pro-Gaullist, and former Prime Minister Pierre Mendes-France, a Jew and anti-Gaullist, who ran in Grenoble.
It was predicted here that some of the run-off candidates, especially M. Couve de Murville, stand a good chance of reelection through the backing of the “Jewish voices.” Regarding Mendes-France’s chances, the forecasts were that he may return to national prominence through next Sunday’s elections.
The French-Jewish statesman, who was Prime Minister in 1954, has been off the national scene since he was run over by the Gaullist bandwagon in 1958 and 1962. However, in Grenoble, he scored almost 34 percent of the vote in yesterday’s elections against 38 percent given the Gaullist candidate and 21 percent for the Communist nominee. The Communists had agreed previously that, in case of a run-off, they would shift their votes to M. Mendes-France, thus probably insuring his success at the polls next Sunday.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.