UMP leadership battle: 'last chance mediation'

The UMP leadership crisis continues to dominate the French papers. Former PM Alain Juppé is on front pages as he is now the person mediating the Copé-Fillon clash. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy also features, after his 12-hour grilling by a court in Bordeaux in connection with alleged illegal campaign financing in 2007. That's the focus for this look at the French press this Friday 23rd November, 2012.

IN THE PAPERS

Le Figaro headlines that Alain Juppé’s mediation in the UMP crisis is “a last chance”.

Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui-en-France reports on how he emerged as the ‘UN peacekeeper’ in the Fillon-Copé clash.

Le Figaro says that even with his mediation, the party now risks breaking up.

Libération leads on a photo of Nicolas Sarkozy cast in shadow. Its editorial is headlined ‘Defaites’ and argues the Sarkozy era is over.

The cartoon in Le Parisien-Aujourd’hui-en-France shows Sarkozy saying he wants an Alain Juppé-led Commission to ‘judge’ him.

And Le Monde interviews a political expert who argues the UMP disarray benefits the centre of French politics.

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05/02/2010 - INTERNATIONAL PRESS REVIEW

“Tough road ahead” for Northern Ireland politics, despite policing deal

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05/02/2010 - FRENCH PRESS REVIEW

Strauss-Kahn would beat Sarkozy in Presidential run-off, says poll

The day after Dominique Strauss Kahn told a French radio station that he might consider a Presidential bid in 2012, a poll in the magazine Marianne says the head of the IMF would get 52% of the vote against Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round.