Jospin calls for swift political reforms

The French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, has said he's in favour of reducing the presidential term from seven to five years.

Supporters of the measure argue a five year-term would bring presidential and parliamentary cycles in line; thus ending the practice known as cohabitation -- where the prime minister and president can be from rival parties.

The BBC Paris correspondent says the French right has traditionally opposed such a change, but now there is a growing consensus for modernizing the political system.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service