France

Three candidates declared for Socialist Party leadership

Article published on the 2008-11-16 Latest update 2008-11-16 13:58 TU

Ségolene Royal in Rheims
( Photo: Reuters )

As nominations for the French Socialist Party's top job closed on Sunday, three candidates officially declared they were in the running. Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal will face ex-minister Martine Aubry and left-winger Benoît Hamon when party members vote for the First Secretary on Thursday.

"The hand we extended to other partners has not been taken," declared Royal after the traditional night of negotiation. "So the membership will have to choose what sort of Socialist Party they want."

Aubry, Hamon and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë all declared their opposition to Royal's proposed alliance with the so-called "centre", specifically the liberal, pro-free-market Modem of another failed presidential candidate, François Bayrou.

"But we are all saying the same thing!" declared a perplexed Royal.

On Sunday only Delanoë dropped out of the race.

That leaves Royal with the largest number of members backing her resolution but not enough to be elected First Secretary without winning over someone else's supporters.

Former Employment Minister Aubry, the daughter of ex-Finance Minister and European Commissioner Jacques Delors, is best known for introducing the controversial 35-hour working week.

Hamon, relatively young at 41, is seen as representing the party's left, although he insists "we are in the centre of the left" and says he wants to be the party's "weapon" against President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The party's enemies and former members are rubbing their hands at the public spat.

Eric Besson, who left the party to back Sarkozy and is now a junior minister, sneered that this is the "Congress of confusion and disillusioned love".