Abortion has become one of the focal points of the election campaign

Abortion has become one of the focal points of the election campaign

Simone Veil has a place in the history of the Fifth Republic chiefly because of the abortion law she pushed through, with the support of the left, in 1975.

So perhaps it is because she has taken her place at the head of Giscard’s expanded electoral list that abortion has become one of the central issues in the electoral battle. The neo-Nazi right long ago accused the Jewish health minister of “murdering young French people.” Yet the most serious attacker on this issue is actually the most “anti-European” among the many — Michel Debré, who was de Gaulle’s prime minister.

According to his calculations, France will collapse within ten years unless the fertility of French women (1.8 children per head) increases drastically. This national interest, defending an aging Europe against the Third World, which is playing the fertility card, takes precedence, he says, over supposed personal and human freedom. It is a question of responsibility.

The position of the Catholic Church is interesting in this connection. Although officially it has come out vehemently against abortion, in personal clarifications the “spiritual shepherds” announce that they are, of course, addressing devout Catholics alone.

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A meal on the “Queen’s” tab

Simone Veil is currently the most popular woman in France, whom French President Giscard d’Estaing has designated to head a list to his liking in the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament.

Do not forget that she is one of our people, as is well known and as we are reminded again and again in case we have forgotten. We ate at her expense, meaning at the expense of her election campaign, not in just any bistro but at the “Intercontinental” — perhaps the most luxurious of Paris hotels.

So we foreigners agreed among ourselves, during the press conference, which is a necessary evil preliminary to a successful move to the dining room awaiting us, that we would not ask unnecessary questions. We left the job to the European natives. It is their business.

On our way to eat, we warmly shook hands with Simone and several of those following her on the list, and even hinted, if our memory does not deceive us, at something concerning how we would vote on Judgment Day. What’s wrong with that?

We sat at a table with Philippe Pontet, Her Majesty’s campaign manager, and, so as not to give offense, took a look between the goose fat and the salad at the “battle plan.” Very impressive, it must be said. A thousand information platforms across France. Add to that five million posters and about as many smaller leaflets. More wine?

The activists hurry off, but we stay and eat the custard to the very end. Cake with chocolate ice cream. Something out of this world. There is coffee too. And there is time.

The Queen of Jordan’s six men

Elizabeth Halaky, also known as Noor al-Hussein, the American-born wife of the King of Jordan, arrived in Paris for a four-day shopping trip.
The finest couturiers and jewelers are reaping some profit, and Her Majesty some satisfaction.

In the cultural sphere, Liz from Amman managed a brief but thorough visit to “Maxim’s,” where she enjoyed a nourishing meal, as befits someone who is shortly to bring a royal heir into the world.

Her only problem was the company. For how long can an admittedly attractive young woman go about with six burly men glued to her side? Even if at first it may be very flattering? How long? All the time. They did not leave her for a moment. The instructions from one little man overseas were clear: shopping, “Maxim’s” — just fine. But better safe than sorry...

The queen, it seems, has accepted her fate and grown accustomed to the muscular company. “A fair price for the crown of Jordan,” she surely said to herself, and meanwhile did not forget.

Does the beauty from Tunis love Gaddafi or not?

But the weekly “Jeune Afrique” revealed to its readers [illegible] does not love [illegible] of Libya and the ruler Gaddafi.

The facts related that he had fallen in love with a beautiful student of Tunisian origin, Michèle Shema, who had taken part in a delegation of French students received by the Tripoli president. The president telephoned the family of the beauty in question in Tunis and offered them a “Libyan-Tunisian alliance” and also a “Boeing” to come to Tripoli. And a scholarship as well for her return to her studies in Paris. So much for “Jeune Afrique.”

Then the left-wing, intellectual “Nouvel Observateur” sprang into action. Well, one should know that the intelligence services immediately “got onto” our young woman’s telephone, and the political implications are clear. Reports from the dark apparatus reveal that the colonel telephoned Mishka in Paris many times, but she, several captives revealed, protested to him about the status of women in Libya, especially considering the fact that the colonel is already married and the father of three. She is, as noted, against polygamy and against “medieval laws.” And here comes the “Observateur’s” significant “scoop”: Mishka actually does love the progressive Gaddafi very much. But she does not reveal her heart to him because he does not love her enough to make changes to his policies.”

The “Observateur’s” enthusiasm was cooled by “Valeurs actuelles,” which has an entirely different view of the existential question. “It seems,” maintained the respected weekly, without identifying its sources, “that Mishka prefers capitalism to socialism. That is the root of the problem.”

Now go figure out who is right.