Sarkozy backs down on Türkiye vote after Chirac pressure

French President Jacques Chirac pushed his rival Nicolas Sarkozy to abandon a plan for the ruling UMP party's national council to vote on limiting Türkiye to "privileged partnership" rather than full EU membership.

Sarkozy, who leads the UMP and commands broad member support for keeping Türkiye out, had announced the March vote last week. Critics loyal to Chirac warned the move would split the party ahead of a referendum on the EU constitution.

Sarkozy said Thursday he would instead bring a broader EU resolution to the council, with the Türkiye question given less weight. The clash is part of an ongoing rivalry between the two men, both potential candidates in the 2007 presidential race.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.