France's Royal hints at concessions for centre vote

PARIS, Apr 29 (Reuters) French presidential contender Segolene Royal hinted today that she could change her campaign programme and nominate a centrist prime minister in an effort to win over voters a week ahead of the second round vote.

Socialist Royal is trailing right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy in opinion polls ahead of the May 6 run-off and needs the backing of supporters of centrist former candidate Francois Bayrou if she is to become France's first female president.

Royal refused to exclude nominating Bayrou as prime minister.

''I do not rule anything out,'' she told Canal Plus television.

She also appeared to be offering concessions to his voters by suggesting she could tweak her campaign programme to incorporate new ideas.

''Not only am I ready to add to it, but tomorrow, if I am elected president, all good ideas will be useful for the country,'' she said.

Royal and Sarkozy will hold a hotly-awaited prime time television debate on Wednesday evening which is seen as the grand finale of the presidential campaign.

Royal also made a highly unusual televised appearance yesterday with Bayrou to court the 7 million voters who put him in third position in the first round of voting on April 22.

The 53-year-old is facing a difficult balancing act between gaining the confidence of the centrists and making sure she does not lose the confidence of the voters on the far-left.

Sarkozy has also reached out to Bayrou's voters but he has refused to take part in a television debate with him -- an event which is usually reserved for the two second round finalists.

''I am totally ready to have a dialogue with him, to meet him. Yes to dialogue, yes to openness,'' he told Canal Plus.

''If Francois wants to talk, there is no problem. But a face to face debate, it must be between the finalists.'' Many of the deputies from Bayrou's UDF party, which has traditionally formed alliances with right-wing governments, have said they will vote for Sarkozy, who has promised to have UDF ministers in his government if he is elected.

''We could work perfectly together, we can perfectly govern together,'' Sarkozy said. ''Francois Bayrou cannot drive his political family into an alliance with the far-left.'' Bayrou has refused to endorse either candidate, but last week had particularly harsh words for Sarkozy.

Sarkozy will hold a rally in Paris later today, but the next major highlight of the campaign is Wednesday's debate.

Royal will be looking to convince the voters of the centre that her policies are credible while Sarkozy will need to shake off his aggressive image.

REUTERS JK BST2033