French legislators finally passed a bill to regulate genetically engineered crops May 22 after blocking the same text by a single vote the previous week. President Nicolas Sarkozy had aimed at reinforcing unity between his executive branch and the increasingly restive legislature when he recently hosted his ruling, conservative, UMP party's legislators at the Elysee Palace for a meeting. He gave a pep talk that was intended to inspire the troops. Party morale has been low because of Sarkozy's slump in opinion polls and the UMP's heavy defeat in municipal elections in March.
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