Bertrand Delanoë - French politics - Martine Aubry

Paris mayor Delanoë reluctantly backs Aubry

Monday 17 November 2008

After much dithering, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë has rallied behind former rival Martine Aubry, in a major blow to former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. Socialist Party militants will elect a new leader in an internal vote on Thursday.

Special Report French Socialists elect new chief

Monday 17 November 2008

By FRANCE 24 (with wires) (text) / Nadia CHARBIT (video)

View our special coverage: 'Desperately seeking top Socialist'

Watch our reports:
'Socialist Left factions in dire straits in Paris'

'Grassroots militants pick Ségolène Royal - again'

Paris mayor Betrand Delanoë has called Socialist party militants to vote for his rival Martine Aubry during Thursday’s election to choose the party’s new leader. On Sunday, the race’s former front runner had announced he was stepping down, but withheld from giving his supporters voting instructions, a sure sign the bitter climate that plagued the weekend’s negotiations between himself and the former employment minister.

In a letter addressed to all socialist militants in the aftermath of the party’s annual congress in Reims, Delanoë wrote that he had “made up his mind to support Aubry’s candidacy” and called to “vote massively in her favour”. He claims that “the very identity of the Socialist party is at stake”, adding that militants have a “huge responsibility” to elect the right person.

When party members first voted on Nov. 6, Bertrand Delanoë’s proposed motion came in second, behind that led by former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. The motion led by Lille mayor Martine Aubry came in a close third.

Despite her relative popularity among grassroots militants, Royal is detested by other leading figures in the party and found herself isolated after the initial vote. However, Aubry and Delanoë did not succeed at first in presenting a united front against their rival, even after an intense weekend of power-sharing talks.

Bertrand Delanoë - French politics - Martine Aubry

[7] reactions :

24/11/2008 22:50:41 Alert a moderator

an useless dispute

By Djaket - Cote d'Ivoire

i think the french party socialist candidates to rule are wrong to fight for the leadership and this battle could weaken their party years coming. if they keep on this way the 2012 Election is lost in advance and the clash will burst them up and the party will sink. i think they should be bound with the same rope and solve their briefing battle and try to strenghen the group and keep their partisans trust. the squabble is of no use.
24/11/2008 16:47:46 Alert a moderator

Split in the French Sovialist Party

By Derek Van Ryne - Agde, France

I am an Englishman living in France and feel a sense of "deja vu" over the French Socialist Party.

Politics is all about winning. To win you must have realistic policies that the public at large will support. Realism wins elections not “ideology “. Winning is everything because you cannot do anything to improve the lives of ordinary people if you do win.

I believe the French Socialist Party is currently in the same position that the British Labour Party was in in the mid to late 1980’s and that to succeed in future they must modernise just like the Labour Party had to. Above all they need to elect a strong leader, a Tony Blair type, who will produce realistic policies that are acceptable to the French people. At the same time they should cure the cancer in the party by expelling all militants !!

If the French Socialist Party does this it will become a winner once again. If it does not the only winner will be President Sarkozy and the French right wing !!

Come on guys stop squabbling, sort yourselves out !!!
24/11/2008 02:58:30 Alert a moderator

Socialist Leadership

By Allen Shapard - USA

This seems insane. If the party is so split why not fully split into two parties with separate platforms and see what ideas are most popular with French voters. The best will grow while the other fades. I think the USA has suffered by limiting itself to two major parties which preclude new and fresh ideas.
23/11/2008 20:20:44 Alert a moderator

socialist elections

By Anonyme joseph walker - sherborne dorset uk

It s pretty obvious to any intellect ,18 votes dont justify the leader has the full backing of all socialist in the party,personally the fight should not be between the two people who represent the party,but the energy should be directed at the right wing govt in power.unless they want to remain in opposition .and fight amongst themselves.
23/11/2008 13:22:54 Alert a moderator

Socialists in turmoil

By Ian - Nanteuil, France

The President must be laughing his socks off at the lefties. When will the silly sods learn that parties who indulge in inter-necine warfare are intrinsically unelectable. You couldn't make it up...
22/11/2008 17:58:46 Alert a moderator

socilalist

By Anonyme.Joseph walker - sherborne dorset uk

The last great socialist was Mitterand,whatever he did must have had the socialist in power,somewhere they gone astray,probably to much trying to assimilate with right wing policies.,the right wing only have one agenda ,staying in power and benefitting the minority ,anything else is comestic and appeals to the people who have forgotten what the french nations principles are founded on.
21/11/2008 15:51:02 Alert a moderator

socialist

By Anonyme joseph walker - sherborne dorset

Need to unite not divisions ,the only way to get rid of the policies which only benefit the minority in society.the rich.unfortunetly we in england are way behind the socialist we have practically a two part state the old tories ,new labour or new tories and the liberals.we havnt any effective govt tackling policies which have favoured the minority ie the ruling class of england for centuries.