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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Royal renews 'dirty tricks' plea | Royal renews 'dirty tricks' plea |
| (2 days later) | |
| French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has called on President Jacques Chirac to restore order in the presidential election campaign. | French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has called on President Jacques Chirac to restore order in the presidential election campaign. |
| She says her rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, has mounted dirty tricks and personal attacks on her. | She says her rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, has mounted dirty tricks and personal attacks on her. |
| The Socialists allege that Mr Sarkozy ordered the domestic intelligence agency to dig dirt on the former head of Greenpeace France, Bruno Rebelle. | The Socialists allege that Mr Sarkozy ordered the domestic intelligence agency to dig dirt on the former head of Greenpeace France, Bruno Rebelle. |
| He is now a member of the Royal team. Mr Sarkozy denies the allegation. | He is now a member of the Royal team. Mr Sarkozy denies the allegation. |
| 'Misused powers' | 'Misused powers' |
| France's presidential election campaign has begun in earnest, with accusations and counter-allegations of dirty tricks. | France's presidential election campaign has begun in earnest, with accusations and counter-allegations of dirty tricks. |
| Mr Sarkozy denies the Socialists' allegations | Mr Sarkozy denies the Socialists' allegations |
| The Socialists are calling for Mr Sarkozy, the centre right UMP candidate, to resign as interior minister. | The Socialists are calling for Mr Sarkozy, the centre right UMP candidate, to resign as interior minister. |
| They say he misused his powers of office by ordering the domestic intelligence agency to investigate his rival's campaign team. | They say he misused his powers of office by ordering the domestic intelligence agency to investigate his rival's campaign team. |
| The man they were apparently interested in was a former director of Greenpeace in France, who now advises Segolene Royal on the environment. | The man they were apparently interested in was a former director of Greenpeace in France, who now advises Segolene Royal on the environment. |
| Ms Royal's brother, Antoine, now claims that French intelligence also investigated him after he revealed that another brother, Gerard, was a French secret agent who helped blow up the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in 1985. | Ms Royal's brother, Antoine, now claims that French intelligence also investigated him after he revealed that another brother, Gerard, was a French secret agent who helped blow up the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in 1985. |
| Mr Sarkozy denies ordering any such investigations. | Mr Sarkozy denies ordering any such investigations. |
| However, some French commentators have called on the interior minister to step down, saying that his role as head of police and security is incompatible with running for the presidency. | However, some French commentators have called on the interior minister to step down, saying that his role as head of police and security is incompatible with running for the presidency. |
| Royal gaffes | Royal gaffes |
| The row could win Ms Royal some public sympathy, though she has recently seen her own campaign damaged by a series of foreign policy gaffes. | The row could win Ms Royal some public sympathy, though she has recently seen her own campaign damaged by a series of foreign policy gaffes. |
| In the latest, she angered Canadians after apparently calling for independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec. | In the latest, she angered Canadians after apparently calling for independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec. |
| Ms Royal was then taken in by a French comedian, who telephoned her claiming to be the premier of Quebec. | Ms Royal was then taken in by a French comedian, who telephoned her claiming to be the premier of Quebec. |
| Ms Royal's team have attempted to laugh it off. But more seriously, on a recent visit to Beijing, she sparked uproar in France by praising the Chinese justice system. | Ms Royal's team have attempted to laugh it off. But more seriously, on a recent visit to Beijing, she sparked uproar in France by praising the Chinese justice system. |
| Are "dirty tricks" overshadowing the French election? Send us your comments |