Mitterrand tops presidential poll

François Mitterrand emerged in an opinion poll yesterday as the Fifth Republic's best president, pipping Charles de Gaulle by a head and the incumbent Jacques Chirac by several lengths.

In a result that said as much about the shortcomings of the man who succeeded him as it did about his own achievements, Mitterrand, whose death 10 years ago this Sunday will be commemorated with a nostalgia fest, won the support of 35% of respondents in a poll for the left-leaning daily Libération.

Despite the scandals that have surfaced since his death, Mitterrand, who led France for 14 years from 1981, finished five points ahead of de Gaulle on 30% and 23 points clear of Mr Chirac on 12%.

Georges Pompidou, president from 1969 to 1974, and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, from 1974 to 1981, managed 7% and 5% respectively in the survey, a representative sample of 952 people carried out by the pollster CSA. Analysts said the result was probably influenced by the current deluge of Mitterrand anniversary books and films and by the dismal fin de régne of Mr Chirac, who is expected to step down next year.

Critics claim Mr Chirac has achieved little in 10 years in power and looked out of touch during a year in which France voted no to the EU constitution and suffered its worst urban violence since 1968.