even certain they will defeat Le Pen's fascist National Front party.
The Gaullist RPR and the Giscardian UDF, the two party groupings of the right, stana poised to win a combined majority.
These bare facts, however, only tell half the story. The election campaign's closing months lave been dominated, not by the crisis of the left -but by that of the right.
The dilemma racking the right does not concern policies. The RPR and the JDF have produced their DIO gramme" widely termed néolibéralisme musclé' best translated as 'heavy Thatcherism'. They want to privatise the banks, insurance, television and the major industrial-groups. Leaders of the RPR and the UDE, the two right wing blocs On 16 March France goes to the polls. Short of a political earthquake, it will unseat the incumbent munists are struggling to reach 10 per cent. It is not They want to scrap wealth tax and impose an income tax ceiling of 60 percent.
They want remove much of the legal protec. tion now available curtail French workers;
strengthen the police and security forces and beef up French colonialism North Africa Caledonia and the Carib. bean. inel problem is, bluntly, that they will have Under the constitution established after De Gaulle's coup d'etat of 1958 which ushered in the so-called 'Fifth Republic', ence together in 1982.
the president has sweeping powers and is elected every seven years, unlike the assemble which is elected five years. Mitterand does not come up fo reelection until 1988.
Traditional left policy Barre of the UDF against Mitterrand wants play their rivalry ruthlessly: both are potential prime ministers, both as pills presidents.
Mitterrand has further cleared a path for the Socialists to continue playdominant role by Thes: "Previously. the rules. there was complicated two round system. This meant, example, that the Communist put candidates up in the first round of voting call VULC the socialists. Bar Mitterrand has introduced proportional representation with a 'bar' preventing small parties getting in. This helps marginalise Ine Communist Party. In theory it likewise limits the fascists, they will become the kite means flyers for policies the other right wing parties cannot 'respectably' endorse It also makes it far harder for alternative parties, like for example the German Greens, to arrive on the scene. It puts sever the far left, such as the Revolutionary Communist League, who have been trying to bring together a lett alternative to Mitterrand.
The bargain MitterMitterrand wreck the 39-hour week, mind the 35-hour week Measures called 'TUC' (collectively useful works) allow employers to take on youth on a similar menial jobs and minimal TaLe He has 'stabilised' the French at expense of •2½ million unemployed heavy cuts in social spending. He has caved in to the right's campaign against state education and in favour of increased independence for private schools. He has imposed an absolute ban on immigration and has denied immigrant workers any extension of their rights, fuelling legitimising a vicious and brutal rise in racism.
Above all he has launtowns. Key dates to watch: the Saturday 19 April: Protest against the Scotland: Paul Annegarn, 883 1477 South West: Bristol 40344 Wales: Hanif Bhamjee Cardiff 499769 March month of THROUGHOUT March into April the Anti Apartheid Movement is organising activities up and down the country. The highlight of the month is Saturday 22 March, with demonstrations, vigils, placard displays and other actions in many large Friday 21 March: Remember Langa, Remember Sharpeville Anniversaries of the massacres in Saturday 22 March: FREE NAMIBIA! FREE SOUTH AFRICA! SANCTIONS NOW! Local marches and demonstrations throughout Britain. See below for regional and local contacts. Monday 14 — Sunday 20 April: Week of trade union action against apartheid Details from Wednesday 16 April: Protest against the Springboks, Cardiff Demonstration against South African participation in IRFU centenary match Cardiff Arms Park, kick-off 5pm. Details from Hanif Bhamjee, Cardiff (0222) 499769.
Springboks, Twickenham Demonstration at IRFU centenary match. Details from Karen For details of major regional activities contact:
South Yorks: Paul Blomfeld, Sheffield 862588 Teeside: Middlesborough 227160/785914
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Socialist government. The Socialists' hope to keep 30 per cent and remain the largest party. The Com-