A tongue-in-cheek characterization of UDF's membership is that it was the union of everybody on the right that was neither far-right nor a Chirac supporter.

Even longtime Chirac supporters had lost their faith.

Jean-Louis Debré, president of the National Assembly and a faithful Chirac supporter, declared "I'm not sure that Jacques Chirac succeeded in his presidency.

Socialists accused the president of planting the Chirac supporters in the crowd as the two officials prepared to meet Prime Minister José María Aznar of Spain.

The idea will be to persuade voters to elect a majority of Chirac supporters, an outcome that would also assure Mr. Raffarin of the chance to serve a full five-year term.

The meeting of the Parliament members dragged on into the night before furious Chirac supporters stormed out, leaving Socialist members - who were in the majority anyway - to vote yes to pass the measure.

At the June 2002 legislative election, DL competed in alliance with the Rally for the Republic and other Chirac supporters as the Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP).

On Tuesday Mr. Jospin, a former Education Minister who is making his first run for President, brought out a new campaign slogan, "The President of real change," apparently aimed at disillusioned Chirac supporters but also at the 5.2 million voters who supported other leftist candidates and the Green Party.

Chirac supporters point out that, as mayor, he provided programs to help the elderly, people with disabilities, and single mothers, and introduced the street-cleaning Motocrotte, while providing incentives for businesses to stay in Paris.

Thousands of Chirac supporters gathered tonight in the Place de la République to dance and cheer.