This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20502962
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
France UMP crisis: Jean-Francois Cope confirmed as head | France UMP crisis: Jean-Francois Cope confirmed as head |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Jean-Francois Cope has won a leadership vote to head France's opposition centre-right UMP party, an internal party commission has confirmed. | Jean-Francois Cope has won a leadership vote to head France's opposition centre-right UMP party, an internal party commission has confirmed. |
Mr Cope and rival Francois Fillon have traded accusations of fraud since the 18 November election, which an initial count said Mr Cope had narrowly won. | Mr Cope and rival Francois Fillon have traded accusations of fraud since the 18 November election, which an initial count said Mr Cope had narrowly won. |
However, Mr Fillon rejected the commission's decision as "illegal". | However, Mr Fillon rejected the commission's decision as "illegal". |
Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy, a UMP member, has indicated that a fresh vote is needed, AFP reports. | |
He is reported to have made his views known at a lunch with Mr Fillon on Monday at which he also advised Mr Fillon against legal action. | |
After a fresh ballot count, the commission found that Mr Cope had won by almost 1,000 votes. | |
Mr Fillon had contested the vote, saying many votes from France's overseas territories have not been counted. | |
After the new count, which discounted contested areas and added overseas votes, Mr Cope said: "The committee has confirmed my election. It has even recorded a bigger margin in my favour. The result is there. Everybody must now respect it." | After the new count, which discounted contested areas and added overseas votes, Mr Cope said: "The committee has confirmed my election. It has even recorded a bigger margin in my favour. The result is there. Everybody must now respect it." |
But Mr Fillon, a former prime minister, said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency: "Once again, Jean-Francois Cope has announced that he is president [of the party] by force." | But Mr Fillon, a former prime minister, said in a statement quoted by AFP news agency: "Once again, Jean-Francois Cope has announced that he is president [of the party] by force." |
Mr Fillon added that he did not consider the committee impartial. | Mr Fillon added that he did not consider the committee impartial. |
Correspondents say that the longer the crisis goes on, the harder it is imagine the two camps ever working together again. | Correspondents say that the longer the crisis goes on, the harder it is imagine the two camps ever working together again. |
Many have raised the prospect of France's main right-wing party splitting. On Monday UMP treasurer Dominique Dord, a Fillon supporter, resigned from his post, accusing Mr Cope's team of using party resources for his campaign. | Many have raised the prospect of France's main right-wing party splitting. On Monday UMP treasurer Dominique Dord, a Fillon supporter, resigned from his post, accusing Mr Cope's team of using party resources for his campaign. |
Mr Fillon is considered the more centrist candidate, with Mr Cope viewed as being on the right of the party. | Mr Fillon is considered the more centrist candidate, with Mr Cope viewed as being on the right of the party. |
Previous version
1
Next version