1.
GV HOTEL MATIGNON
0.05

2.
GV JOURNALISTS WAIT ON STEPS
0.08

3.
SV MATIGNON WINDOWS
0.11

4.
SV CAMERAMEN
0.13

5.
SV M. DEBRE SHAKING HANDS WITH M. POMPIDOU
0.21

6.
SV M. DEBRE CLIMBS INTO CAR
0.23

7.
GV TO LV CAR DRIVES OF
0.35



Initials IM/V/MT/FW


EDITORS NOTE: FOR COVERAGE OF POMPIDOU AND CABINET AT ELYSEE SEE OUR PRODUCTION 2202/62 ENDS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LARGE CROWD OF JOURNALISTS WAITED OUTSIDE THE HOTEL MATIGNON, THE OFFICIAL PARIS RESIDENCE OF THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, ON APRIL 16, WHERE FORMER PRIME MINISTER MICHEL DEBRE MET WITH HIS SUCCESSOR M. GEORGES POMPIDOU TO OFFICIALLY HAND OVER EXECUTIVE CONTROL.

AFTER THEIR TALKS THE TWO MEN POSED ON THE STEPS OF THE RESIDENCE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHERS. M. DEBRE LEFT PARIS LATER FOR A REST IN THE COUNTRY. PRIME MINISTER POMPIDOU WILL HOLD HIS FIRST FORMAL CABINET MEETING ON APRIL 18.

SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL HAVE ALREADY STARTED SPECULATING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF M. DEBRE. SOME COMMENTATORS THINK THAT PRESIDENT DE GAULLE INTENDS TO INTRODUCE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES THAT WILL TURN FRANCE INTO A UNITED STATES TYPE OF PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLIC AND MR DEBRE WOULD BECOME VICE-PRESIDENT.

SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMENT ON THESE SPECULATIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT OR HIS NEW PRIME MINISTER.