France

Royal comes out on top in Socialist Party vote

Article published on the 2008-11-07 Latest update 2008-11-07 11:18 TU

Ségolène Royal.
(Photo: Reuters)

Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal’s mission statement received the most support in vote of Socialist Party (PS) members, which is a key step in the party’s search for a new leader. Going into next weekend’s party congress, Royal is now best-placed to become party leader, even though she pulled her candidacy in September.

Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, and Mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, both had motions that received a little less than 25 per cent support each, trailing Royal’s 29 per cent. A fourth motion, representing the left wing of the party, came in fourth with 19 per cent.

The competing statements propose both immediate measures and broader organising principles around which the party is supposed to rally.

Delanoë, Paris' first openly-gay mayor, is best known for his wildly successful Velib' programme of free bicycles. He was an early frontrunner in the race, though his support has been flagging.

Royal's other main opponent, Aubry, is a former employment minister who implemented France's famous 35-hour work week. She comes from a family steeped in French and European politics. Her father, Jacques Delors, was minister of finance in the 1980s, and president of the European Commission.

The PS will meet in Rheims next weekend to choose its next leader –  called "First Secretary” – after 14 years with Royal's former partner François Hollande in the post. The party lost three consecutive presidential elections in that period.

In order to win, a candidate must have more than 50 per cent support of party members, meaning that the eventual winner will have to garner the support of at least one opponent.

Despite Royal’s victory, she still is not officially running for the leadership. In September, saying personal ambitions should not get in the way of a serious discussion of policy and direction, Royal put her candidacy “on ice” and symbolically refused to be the first name on her mission statement’s list of supporters.

But in an interview Friday morning, Royal deliberately left the door open to reannouncing her candidacy, saying she wanted to consult with Delanoë and Aubry before making it official.

The Socialist Party selects its presidential candidate separately, and traditionally doesn’t appoint its leader.

Royal’s family life, which is intricately tied to the PS, continues to play a role in the leadership power struggle. Hollande, the father of Royal’s three children, separated with Royal just after she lost last spring’s presidential election.

Royal made it known shortly afterwards that she would seek to replace Hollande as the party’s leader, after which he conspicuously refused to support Royal’s motion, signing Delanoë’s instead.