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FORT-DE-FRANCE - Allies of French presidential candidate Segolene Royal accused her rival of setting her up after she told a hoax caller France would be happy to have an independent Corsica.
Royal's comments drew criticism from Corsican politicians and have added to Socialist worries that her bid to become France's first woman President is struggling after a series of gaffes on foreign policy and domestic issues.
In a phone conversation with French comedian Gerald Dahan, who is seen as close to her main rival Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, Royal appeared to suggest that France would be happy to grant independence to the island of Corsica.
"We think that it was all a set-up by the UMP [the main conservative party]. Dahan is obviously affiliated to the UMP. He has taken part in several meetings of this organisation," Patrick Mennucci, the deputy director of Royal's campaign told reporters accompanying her on a trip to Martinique.
- REUTERS
