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Jean-Francois Cope, Sarkozy ally, wins French UMP vote | Jean-Francois Cope, Sarkozy ally, wins French UMP vote |
(35 minutes later) | |
The French conservative UMP party has chosen Jean-Francois Cope as its next leader after a tight election marred by claims of fraud and ballot-stuffing. | |
Mr Cope, an ally of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, won 50.03% of the vote, defeating ex-PM Francois Fillon, who polled 49.97%, by just 98 votes. | |
The final result was delayed for more than 24 hours. | The final result was delayed for more than 24 hours. |
Mr Cope, the UMP secretary general, is on the right of the party, while Mr Fillon is seen as more of a centrist. | Mr Cope, the UMP secretary general, is on the right of the party, while Mr Fillon is seen as more of a centrist. |
Party grandees had urged the two candidates to end their war of words, warning that the UMP had been damaged. | Party grandees had urged the two candidates to end their war of words, warning that the UMP had been damaged. |
Different visions | |
Mr Cope, 48, said he had telephoned Mr Fillon, 58, to ask him to join him at the heart of the UMP "because our opponents are on the left". | |
Opinion polls had consistently given Mr Fillon the edge, but initial results on Sunday showed a narrow lead for Cope. | Opinion polls had consistently given Mr Fillon the edge, but initial results on Sunday showed a narrow lead for Cope. |
The UMP held the presidency of France for 17 years, until May, when Socialist candidate Francois Hollande defeated Mr Sarkozy's bid for a second term. | The UMP held the presidency of France for 17 years, until May, when Socialist candidate Francois Hollande defeated Mr Sarkozy's bid for a second term. |
The two candidates have different visions for the party. | The two candidates have different visions for the party. |
Mr Cope is considered more right-wing. Last month he produced "A Manifesto for an Uninhibited Right" in which he claimed that gangs in the city suburbs were fostering "anti-white racism". | Mr Cope is considered more right-wing. Last month he produced "A Manifesto for an Uninhibited Right" in which he claimed that gangs in the city suburbs were fostering "anti-white racism". |
Mr Fillon is seen as sober and more restrained. | Mr Fillon is seen as sober and more restrained. |
The winner will inherit a party in difficult financial straits, after a series of electoral setbacks over the past five years, culminating in Mr Sarkozy's presidential defeat to Socialist rival Francois Hollande. |