NEVER before in the history of the Fifth Republic has a ruling president lost control of the political party he founded. But noblesse oblige, President Jacques Chirac sent a message of support to Mr Philippe Seguin, who was elected leader of the Gaullist Rally for the Republic (RPR) yesterday by 4,000 members at a special congress in the Paris suburb of Vincennes. Mr Seguin stood against five unknown candidates and received 79 per cent of the vote.
After the centre-right's June 1st election defeat, Mr Chirac had tried to stall. He maintained the former prime minister, Mr Alain Juppe, at the head of the party and announced a congress for September. But the rank and file blamed Messrs Chirac and Juppe for their massacre at the polls and demanded a quick turnover.
Mr Seguin's victory was guaranteed when he struck an alliance with the faction of the party led by former prime minister Mr Edouard Balladur. Mr Chirac might have kept a hold on his party if he had wooed the "Balladuriens" before Mr Seguin did. But Messrs Chirac and Balladur fought in the first round of the 1995 presidential election, and that left deep scars.
Although Mr Seguin has also clashed with Mr Balladur, the two men ganged up on the "Juppeistes". In exchange for his support, Mr Balladur demanded that his protege', the former budget minister Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, be given the number two post in the party.
When Mr Seguin said he would announce the party's new collegial leadership within a few days, the Balladuriens feared they had been betrayed - they claim Mr Sarkozy was promised the job of secretary-general. Mr Seguin has said that since he will be leading the party full-time, he may not need a deputy.
Mr Balladur and Mr Sarkozy were booed when they arrived at yesterday's congress. It was a sad spectacle at a meeting meant to promote unity, reconciliation and renovation.
Mr Seguin says that he has wanted to "renovate" the RPR for the past eight years. Now he has his chance. The new leader will call another conference in six months to assess reforms.
For one thing, the RPR must define its policy towards Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front (FN). An RPR deputy was seen dining with Mr Le Pen last week, but Mr Seguin opposes any concessions to the racist FN.
