French PM fires election shot

Should a visitor listen to Jospin (left) or Chirac (right)?

The French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, has said he would like the presidential term reduced from seven to five years.

A five-year term would bring presidential and parliamentary cycles into line, and make less likely periods of cohabitation - when the prime minister and president are from rival parties.

Mr Jospin said that the change, which has been debated in French politics for decades, would not affect President Jacques Chirac's current seven-year term.

However Mr Jospin's statement was seen as an early campaigning shot before an expected contest between the two men for the presidency in 2002.

Modernising democracy

President Chirac, who founded the centre-right Rally for the Republic Party, has been sharing power with Mr Jospin's Socialist-led government since the middle of 1997.

The presidency has been weakened by cohabitation

Explaining his proposal, Mr Jospin declared in a press conference on the steps of his office: "The reform, which I believe is essential for the modernisation of our democracy, now looks ripe for widespread support."

In a lofty response, Mr Chirac's office said that the "guarantor of institutions" would make his position known after ripe reflection and wide consultation.

In the past President Chirac has rejected the idea of shortening the presidential term, but there have been indications that he has changed his mind.

Analysts say he would not wish to surrender easily to Mr Jospin the mantle of the "moderniser" of French politics over the issue.

Snags of cohabitation

French presidents have held seven-year terms since the 19th century, but the office has only enjoyed real power since changes by President Charles de Gaulle in 1958.

The reform...is essential for the modernisation of our democracy

Prime Minister Lionel Jospin

Over the past 14 years, however, analysts say that frequent periods of "cohabitation" have eroded the president's power in favour of the prime minister.

For that very reason, the Communist party leader, Robert Hue, distanced himself from the proposal, saying that he feared a "presidentialisation" of France if the two terms were to run simultaneously.

However, critics of cohabitation say that it has also led to political inertia as both president and prime minister tried to assert themselves without open confrontation.

Jospin wants to be seen as a moderniser

Mr Jospin made it clear that he would prefer to introduce the change with the president's blessing, presumably through a referendum, but would otherwise press ahead with it through parliamentary legislation.

This course might make it difficult to complete the task by the end of the year.

An opinion poll conducted in May suggested the change enjoyed 75% support in France.