41.   Another four parties failed to submit any preferred candidate.

42.   Court president Roland Vandermeeren ruled that Balladur had acted within competition rules and the state was within its rights in nominating its preferred candidate.

43.   The twin jobs were first suggested in an aside by SOCOG president Gary Pemberton after he revealed on Tuesday that the preferred candidate for chief executive had withdrawn.

44.   Some self-styled illiterate voters even gave judges brochures bearing the names of their preferred candidates and asked them to mark these names on the official voting list.

45.   The administration was stung earlier this month by sharp criticism from congressional Republicans of its preferred candidate for the number two post, New York investment banker Felix Rohatyn.