Flamboyant lawyer adds spice to French election

PARIS, June 6 (Reuters) His flamboyant style is spicing up France's legislative election, but critics say lawyer Arno Klarsfeld is trading on his playboy reputation and the fame of his Nazi-hunting parents rather than his policy ideas.

Klarsfeld's candidature in a trendy Paris neighbourhood came as a surprise to many French, among whom the handsome 41-year old is better known for his love affairs with celebrities such as Italian model Carla Bruni than for his political ambitions.

Rivals say Klarsfeld was parachuted into the area east of Paris's Bastille square with the help of a powerful friend -- newly elected conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy.

''It's true that I don't know the neighbourhood very well,'' Klarsfeld said as he strolled around a busy market in the constituency he hopes to win in polls on June 10 and 17.

''But to say it with a quote from 'Casablanca': 'It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship','' he said, wiping a strand of his long black hair out of his face as several elderly women queued to get his autograph.

Klarsfeld, the son of Nazi-hunters Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, became well-known during the trial of Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, when -- representing victims' relatives -- he rollerbladed to hearings. He has also campaigned against the extreme right.

More recently, Sarkozy, the interior minister in France's previous conservative government, named Klarsfeld a mediator over the fate of illegal immigrants.

MODESTY Sarkozy hopes to win a large majority for his Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party in the elections to push through various labour, education and law-and-order reforms in parliament. Surveys see the UMP comfortably winning the polls.

Klarsfeld said his close ties to Sarkozy were an asset, offering his Paris voters a direct line to the president.

Klarsfeld's constituency has traditionally been held by the political right -- the previous deputy was Jean de Gaulle, the grandson of former president Charles de Gaulle.

But Klarsfeld's fight could prove tough, because more people in the area voted for Socialist candidate Segolene Royal than for Sarkozy in last month's presidential run-off.

Klarsfeld's Socialist rival said she was ready for battle.

''You need time, modesty and humility to win the election,'' the leftist party's candidate Sandrine Mazetier told Reuters shortly after Klarsfeld had left the market, followed by two camera teams and half a dozen journalists.

Political rivals say Klarsfeld is only using the election as a springboard for a possible future government post.

''What a circus,'' said Andree Vercryusee, 42, sitting behind the small stall from which she offers upholstering services.

''Rather than wasting money and bringing cameras to the market, a candidate should develop concrete projects for the area. Housing for example, that's a real problem,'' she said.

But pensioner Maria Ortes said she was impressed by the striking lawyer, saying: ''His parents have done a lot for France. And if they brought him up, he must be very humane.'' REUTERS CS KN0906