FRANCE 6,000 MILES FROM HOME FORMER PREMIER MICHEL DEBRE IS SUCH A 
LISTLESS POLITICAL PERSONALITY THAT A CURRENT JOKE SAYS HE WAS ONCE 
SEEN RIDING IN AN EMPTY LIMOUSINE . HE HAS A FUSSY 
MANNER AND A FLAT- WHINING VOICE THAT SOMEHOW RUB POLITICIANS AND 
MANY OTHER FRENCHMEN THE WRONG WAY, OBSCURING HIS CONSIDERABLE ADMINISTRATIVE TALENTS 
. IN CHARLES DE GAULLE'S ELECTORAL LANDSLIDE LAST NOVEMBER, DEBRE THE 
DEDICATED GAULLIST, MAJOR ARCHITECT OF THE FIFTH REPUBLIC'S CONSTITUTION, AND THE 
MAN WHO SERVED A LONGER UNINTERRUPTED PERIOD AS PREMIER (1,193 DAYS) 
THAN ANY OTHER IN FRENCH PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY WAS IGNOMINIOUSLY DEFEATED IN 
HIS OWN CAREFULLY CULTIVATED RURAL CONSTITUENCY BY A LOCAL GARAGE OWNER 
. DE GAULLE, WHO HIMSELF HAD USED DEBRE AS WHIPPING BOY 
FOR MANY OF THE REGIME'S MISTAKES, SOON FOUND, HOWEVER, THAT HE 
SORELY MISSED DEBRE'S PARLIAMENTARY SKILL . GAULLIST AIDES BEGAN TO PONDER 
WAYS TO GET HIM BACK INTO THE LEGISLATURE, WHERE, IF ELECTED, 
HE WAS LIKELY TO BECOME MAJORITY LEADER . TROUBLE WAS, NO 
GAULLIST FACTION IN FRANCE ITSELF WANTED HIM . BUT AT LAST 
A CONSTITUENCY WAS FOUND WHERE DEBRE SEEMED UNLIKELY TO LOSE WEEK 
THE FORMER PREMIER GULPED HARD AND ACCEPTED A BID TO RUN 
FOR OFFICE ON REUNION ISLAND, A TINY FRENCH DOT IN THE 
INDIAN OCEAN NEARLY 6,000 MILES FROM PARIS . 