14 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 22, 1997 NAnONIWoRLD French leader calls for election Offline The Washington Post PARIS - President Jacques Chirac risked his solid legislative majority and put France's commitment to Europe on the line yesterday by calling a general election in less than five weeks, nearly a year before the political calendar requires it. Asking voters to "give France a majority with strength and staying power," Chirac set May 25 as the date for the first round of the early elec- tion, with a second round to follow on June 1. Chirac, whose term as president does not expire until 2002, will not be on the ballot, but he might as well be. The election is a major gamble for his two- year-old presidency as Europe prepares to abandon national currencies in favor of a common one. Although Chirac barely said so in his brief televised address, the election is intended to give his center-right govern- ment a fresh mandate to carry out spending cuts that have been stiffly resisted by the public but are required of any country seeking to convert to the new European currency, the euro, beginning in 1999. YOUR DEGREE WILL TAKE YOU PLACES. As an officer in the U.S. Navy, you'll command your own future. You'll join top flight people working with the best in their field. And have the opportunity for world- wide travel., Navy leadership and executive management training go hand-in- hand to prepare you for an exciting role as a Navy Officer: Navy Officers are: * Pilots/Naval Flight Officers- *Egneso ula * Enginee on Nuclear Submarines_ r