71.   Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on Wednesday announced his candidacy for president in spring elections.

72.   Rising crime rates are expected to be a key campaign issue in spring presidential elections.

73.   President Jacques Chirac officially declares himself a candidate in spring presidential elections.

74.   Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on Wednesday announced his candidacy for president in spring elections, where his chief opponent will be President Jacques Chirac.

75.   Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is widely expected to run against conservative incumbent President Jacques Chirac in presidential elections this spring.

76.   Some have suspected that Yilmaz was eying early elections next spring, hoping that stable prices during the campaign would help him at the polls.

77.   The administration gave the spring elections its stamp of approval, with officials saying privately that a flawed and nonviolent electoral process was better than none.

78.   The announcement is yet another sign the premier is gearing up for a spring election.

79.   The center-left is trying to hold on to power until it can regroup in time for scheduled elections next spring.

80.   The French have blocked energy market privatization, in an attempt not to anger powerful public-sector unions ahead of elections this spring.