FRANCE-SARKOZY/VOTE Sarkozy wins French UMP party leadership with 64.5 percent of vote
Record ID:
328385
FRANCE-SARKOZY/VOTE Sarkozy wins French UMP party leadership with 64.5 percent of vote
- Title: FRANCE-SARKOZY/VOTE Sarkozy wins French UMP party leadership with 64.5 percent of vote
- Date: 29th November 2014
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POSTER WITH PICTURES OF CANDIDATES, INCLUDING NICOLAS SARKOZY PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE FRENCH RIGHT-WING UMP PARTY, ANNE LEVADE, WALKING TO MICROPHONE SCREEN SHOWING PARTICIPATION PERCENTAGES (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE FRENCH RIGHT-WING UMP PARTY ANNE LEVADE SAYING: "Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, 100,159 votes, which corresponds to 64.5 percent of the votes. Bruno Le Maire, 45,317 votes, which corresponds to 29.18 percent of the vote. I will remind you that this announcement is to be confirmed, and when these results are confirmed Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy will be proclaimed the winner, after the examination of potential claims." LEVADE ON STAGE WITH TEAM OF OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF UMP SUPPORTERS CHEERING AND WAVING FRENCH FLAG MAN HOLDING GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE AND CHANTING "WE WON" (SOUNDBITE) (French) UMP SUPPORTER, ANALIA GOUEST, SAYING: "A lot of people do not believe in his (Sarkozy's) capacity to unite. We the supporters are convinced that he can, we are close to him, It's a good score, even if it's not the same as last time, of course." SUPPORTER POURING CHAMPAGNE (SOUNDBITE) (French) UMP SUPPORTER, SEBASTIEN DRAI, SAYING: "It's an exceptional event. It's a political event. It's a comeback, it's a real comeback for the UMP party, for 2017, for the recapture of France. That's what it is." PEOPLE GATHERING OUTSIDE UMP HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 14th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAEXEJ37YMDJSJWGV72JM992C6K
- Story Text: Nicolas Sarkozy was elected leader of the French conservative UMP party on Saturday (November 29) with 64.5 percent of votes cast, official results showed, a step towards becoming a presidential candidate in 2017 but a less convincing endorsement than some had hoped.
The last time the former president secured the UMP chairmanship, in 2004, he won 85 percent of the vote and went on to become the country's head of state from 2007 until 2012.
However, after a storming comeback in September, recent polls showed his popularity among members weakening. Some analysts had said he needed at least 70 percent this time to secure a position as UMP presidential candidate.
Sarkozy's main opponent Bruno Le Maire obtained a decent result with nearly 30 percent of the vote, a percentage which was considered as sufficient to challenge Sarkozy for the UMP presidential ticket
Anne Levade, the president of the high authority of the UMP party whose mission was to guarantee the legitimacy of the election, announced the results shortly after the closure of the electronic polls.
"Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, 100,159 votes, which corresponds to 64.5 percent of the votes. Bruno Le Maire, 45,317 votes, which corresponds to 29.18 percent of the vote. I will remind you that this announcement is to be confirmed, and when these results are confirmed Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy will be proclaimed the winner, after the examination of potential claims," said Levade.
Outside the UMP party headquarters several dozens of supporters celebrating the news and chanted the first name of their winner.
"A lot of people do not believe in his (Sarkozy's) capacity to unite. We the supporters are convinced that he can, we are close to him, It's a good score, even if it's not the same as last time, of course," said Analia Gouest outside the UMP headquarters.
"It's an exceptional event. It's a political event. It's a comeback, it's a real comeback for the UMP party, for 2017, for the recapture of France. That's what it is," said Sebastien Drai, a young UMP supporter.
Sarkozy won the French presidency in 2007 but has watched impatiently from the sidelines since losing to Socialist Francois Hollande in 2012.
He is favourite to be named UMP chairman but knows only a convincing win will deter party rivals from emerging later to challenge him for the presidential ticket. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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