‘Anti-Turkey’ Alain Juppe Resigns in France

A suit was filed against Juppe for financial irregularities during the time Jacques Chirac was Mayor of Paris. Juppe was found guilty and as part of his sentence he is barred from public office for 10 years. The resignation of Juppé, known as the right hand of Chirac, is interpreted as Chirac losing his grip on power.

Minister of Economy Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the names as a candidate for the leadership of the party, is not sympathetic towards Turkey either. Chirac asked Sarkozy, expected to be his biggest competitor in the 2007 Presidential election, to resign.

Sarkozy, who seems to have obtained the support of most of the Parliament, has become strong. Some French diplomats speaking to Zaman have reported that Armenian Patric Deveciyan would be the Prime Minister provided Sarkozy became President.

It is declared that Chirac found Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin suitable for the leadership of the party.