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Quebec 'gaffe' causes Royal grief | Quebec 'gaffe' causes Royal grief |
(about 4 hours later) | |
French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has denied interfering in Canada's affairs, after she voiced apparent sympathy for Quebec's freedom. | French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has denied interfering in Canada's affairs, after she voiced apparent sympathy for Quebec's freedom. |
Ms Royal told reporters on Monday she supported "sovereignty and liberty" for Quebec, prompting a rebuke from Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper. | Ms Royal told reporters on Monday she supported "sovereignty and liberty" for Quebec, prompting a rebuke from Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper. |
She now says she meant that "the people who vote are sovereign and free". | She now says she meant that "the people who vote are sovereign and free". |
Ties between mainly French-speaking Quebec and the rest of Canada are a major domestic political issue. | Ties between mainly French-speaking Quebec and the rest of Canada are a major domestic political issue. |
Ms Royal's reported comments, which made headline news in Canada, followed a brief meeting in Paris on Monday with the leader of the pro-independence Parti Quebecois, Andre Boisclair. | Ms Royal's reported comments, which made headline news in Canada, followed a brief meeting in Paris on Monday with the leader of the pro-independence Parti Quebecois, Andre Boisclair. |
She said she and Mr Boisclair had common positions that included "the sovereignty and freedom of Quebec". | She said she and Mr Boisclair had common positions that included "the sovereignty and freedom of Quebec". |
Reacting to Ms Royal's comments, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: "Experience teaches that it is highly inappropriate for a foreign leader to interfere in the democratic affairs of another country." | |
On Tuesday, Ms Royal said her views had not deviated from the long-standing French policy of "neither interference nor indifference" in Quebec. | On Tuesday, Ms Royal said her views had not deviated from the long-standing French policy of "neither interference nor indifference" in Quebec. |
"What I said, which I confirm, is that in any democracy, the people who vote are sovereign and free" | "What I said, which I confirm, is that in any democracy, the people who vote are sovereign and free" |
The people of Quebec would freely decide their destiny if and when the time comes, she said. | The people of Quebec would freely decide their destiny if and when the time comes, she said. |
Untested | Untested |
It is not the first time that Ms Royal has been criticised for what opponents say are diplomatic gaffes. | It is not the first time that Ms Royal has been criticised for what opponents say are diplomatic gaffes. |
On a visit to Lebanon in December, she was accused of condoning remarks by a Hezbollah leader who compared Israel's former occupation of Lebanon to that of the Nazis in France. | On a visit to Lebanon in December, she was accused of condoning remarks by a Hezbollah leader who compared Israel's former occupation of Lebanon to that of the Nazis in France. |
In Beijing, she said France's justice system could learn lessons from China, a country which has long been accused of abusing human rights. | In Beijing, she said France's justice system could learn lessons from China, a country which has long been accused of abusing human rights. |
Critics say that Ms Royal, who is largely untested in diplomatic affairs, tailors her remarks to please whomever she is speaking to. | Critics say that Ms Royal, who is largely untested in diplomatic affairs, tailors her remarks to please whomever she is speaking to. |
Opinion polls put her behind her conservative opponent Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior Minister. | Opinion polls put her behind her conservative opponent Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior Minister. |
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