61.   He is hoping to return to power at the head of a conservative coalition during national elections, possibly in October.

62.   His conservative coalition has the votes to override most expected challenges to the plan by the upper house, or Bundesrat, dominated by the leftist Social Democrats.

63.   His conservative coalition facing a toughening election campaign with the left, President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday asked voters to break with the past and capitalize on change.

64.   His conservative coalition has the votes to override most expected challenges to the plan by the upper house, or Bundesrat, which the main opposition Social Democrats dominate.

65.   His conservative coalition is now favored to win ahead of the opposition Labor Party, led by Kim Beazley.

66.   His conservative coalition has the votes to override expected challenges to the plan by the upper house, or Bundesrat, which the main opposition Social Democrats dominate.

67.   His conservative coalition having been driven from power last June when he called early elections, Chirac has assumed a low profile at home.

68.   Howard is facing an emerging rift in the ruling conservative coalition over the tax package and the full privatization of the national telecommunications carrier, Telstra Corp.

69.   Howard, who leads the national conservative coalition, is expected by political analysts to announce a federal election date on Sunday.

70.   However, the conservative coalition that won March elections in Australia has questioned whether the bridge is the best use of aid funds.