French Greens bickering, divided as EU vote looms

PARIS (AP) — France’s Greens could well be upbeat: They tallied record results in recent municipal elections. They got an unprecedented offer for the No. 2 post in a Socialist-led Cabinet. They champion environmental issues that many French have been contemplating ever since Paris skies were recently coated in heavy smog.

Instead, they’re bickering — and the rift threatens to muddle the message of one of Europe’s most visible and power-wielding ecology parties before next month’s European parliamentary elections, potentially deflating the ability of avowed tree-huggers to shape policy at a time of rising environmental concerns.