Europe News

French governing party begins vote on presidential candidate

Jan 2, 2007, 11:06 GMT

Paris - Members of France's governing centre-right UMP party began voting Tuesday in a primary that is virtually certain to nominate Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy as its candidate for next year's presidential election. The 327,000 party members eligible to vote will be casting their ballots for 10 days and exclusively by internet, in the country's first online primary. After Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said last Thursday that she would not seek the party's nomination, Sarkozy - who is also party chief - was left as the only candidate. The results of the vote will be made public during the UMP congress on January 14. The first round of French presidential elections is scheduled for April 22, with a second round to be held two weeks later, if necessary. Polls currently show Sarkozy running neck-and-neck with the Socialist Party candidate, Segolene Royal. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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French governing party begins vote on presidential candidate

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