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New leader for French Socialists Royal demands French vote re-run
(about 4 hours later)
A vote to choose the leader of the French Socialist opposition has been won by Martine Aubry, the party says. French ex-presidential candidate Segolene Royal is contesting the results of a vote to choose the leader of the French Socialist opposition.
A former minister and current mayor of Lille, Ms Aubry is best known as the architect of 35-hour work week. Martine Aubry, a former minister and current mayor of Lille, won the vote by a razor-thin margin of 42 votes.
Official results say she defeated ex-presidential candidate Segolene Royal by 42 votes, a razor-thin margin. Ms Royal is contesting the result. Ms Aubry is best known as the architect of the 35-hour work week.
Supporters of Ms Royal said there had been irregularities and demanded a re-run of the vote next week, raising the prospect of more party in-fighting.
The party has been divided over whether to move toward the political centre or hold to traditional leftist beliefs.The party has been divided over whether to move toward the political centre or hold to traditional leftist beliefs.
Ms Aubry, 58, won 50.02% in a second ballot of party members. Ms Royal scored 49.98%.Ms Aubry, 58, won 50.02% in a second ballot of party members. Ms Royal scored 49.98%.
Ms Royal's lawyer, Jean Pierre Mignard, said the result was "contested and questionable".
"I am not going to take this," Ms Royal told AFP news agency."I am not going to take this," Ms Royal told AFP news agency.
But Ms Aubry rejected her proposal to hold a new vote. She will be the first female to head the French Socialists.But Ms Aubry rejected her proposal to hold a new vote. She will be the first female to head the French Socialists.
She takes over from Francois Hollande, Ms Royal's estranged partner and the father of her four children, who has led the Socialist Party for the past 11 years.
Party infightingParty infighting
The election went to a second round after a first ballot on Thursday failed to produce a winner with more than 50% of votes.The election went to a second round after a first ballot on Thursday failed to produce a winner with more than 50% of votes.
Ms Royal gained 42.5% of the vote, Ms Aubry 34.7% and Leftist MEP Benoit Hamon 22.8%.Ms Royal gained 42.5% of the vote, Ms Aubry 34.7% and Leftist MEP Benoit Hamon 22.8%.
Mr Hamon dropped out and urged those who had backed him to vote for Ms Aubry in the second round.Mr Hamon dropped out and urged those who had backed him to vote for Ms Aubry in the second round.
Ms Aubry has said she wants to reform the party while also upholding its "leftist values".Ms Aubry has said she wants to reform the party while also upholding its "leftist values".
The Socialist Party is gravely ill Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe Profile: Segolene RoyalProfile: Martine AubryThe Socialist Party is gravely ill Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe Profile: Segolene RoyalProfile: Martine Aubry
Ms Royal, defeated by centre-right President Nicolas Sarkozy in last year's election, had said she wanted to renew the party and put it in a position to beat the conservative candidate in 2012.Ms Royal, defeated by centre-right President Nicolas Sarkozy in last year's election, had said she wanted to renew the party and put it in a position to beat the conservative candidate in 2012.
There has not been a Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand won a second term in 1988.There has not been a Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand won a second term in 1988.
Ms Royal has been accused of seeking to transform the party into her own personal electoral machine, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris.Ms Royal has been accused of seeking to transform the party into her own personal electoral machine, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris.
Supporters had hoped she could reform the party and bring it towards the centre, but critics, especially among the party's old guard, have accused her of being politically inconsistent.Supporters had hoped she could reform the party and bring it towards the centre, but critics, especially among the party's old guard, have accused her of being politically inconsistent.
The voting took place after last weekend's annual party congress - that was meant to back a single candidate - ended in disarray, with top party members failing to reach consensus on a new leader.The voting took place after last weekend's annual party congress - that was meant to back a single candidate - ended in disarray, with top party members failing to reach consensus on a new leader.
France's media have said the Socialists showed themselves at the Reims convention to be "ungovernable".France's media have said the Socialists showed themselves at the Reims convention to be "ungovernable".