Jospin hits back over health claim

Jospin (left) and Chirac exchanged barbs as the first-round presidential campaign drew to a close

PARIS, France -- Lionel Jospin's election camp has accused Jacques Chirac's conservatives of dirty tricks over an unsigned letter alleging that Jospin's health makes him unfit to hold the presidency.

As Sunday's first-round presidential vote approached, the letter -- purporting to be from "three specialists in thyroid problems" -- suggested that prime minister Jospin still suffered from a type of thyroid overactivity for which he was operated on eight years ago, Reuters news agency reported.

The letter, reported to be circulating among politicians, alleged the condition made Jospin prone to unpredictable outbursts of anger.

"We know all too well that this type of tactic comes from the right and flourishes during election campaigns. This is no exception," Reuters quoted Jospin's campaign office as saying.

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Jospin's campaign has previously denied he still suffers from the condition.

Meanwhile President Chirac and Jospin both rushed to defend French culture and appeal to voters angry over the way Vivendi Universal chief Jean-Marie Messier fired the head of Canal Plus television, Pierre Lescure.

Tuesday's abrupt move by the French-U.S. media group revived fears that globalisation could destroy French culture.

"It has widened out into bigger political row because Messier has been heard to condemn the French system of 'cultural exception,' whereby a specific proportion of Canal Plus's effort has to be directed into making and producing French films," said CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley.

"Jospin has stepped into the row. He's asked the French media watchdog to make sure (Canal Plus) continues to produce enough French films."

Jospin told Europe 1 radio he was watching to make sure Vivendi kept its promises to France's TV and film industries.

"What's important to me in this matter is that at its core, Canal Plus is a certain state of mind, a certain French spirit, it is a free voice in television that must be preserved," The Associated Press quoted Jospin as saying.

Chirac, for his part, told RFI radio that "national interests" were at stake, according to the AP.

Meanwhile, with veteran far-right populist candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen eating into Chirac's support, the president hit out at Jospin, implying he had let the far-right flourish.

"The rise of extremism is always the result of inaction," Reuters quoted Chirac as saying.

One poll shows Le Pen's support surging to 13 percent in the first round, while Chirac's support has dropped to 22 and Jospin's to 18. Chirac holds only a slight edge over Jospin in the May 5 runoff.

"Chirac's 51-49 lead is only a virtual advantage. It's still very fragile," Ipsos polling chief Pierre Giacometti told Europe 1 radio, according to Reuters. A record 16 candidates are running in the first round.