Posted on 11/27/2012 2:20:15 PM PST by Cincinna
After more than a week of wrangling over the outcome of its hotly contested party election, the leadership of France’s center-right opposition party on Monday confirmed Jean-François Copé, a right-leaning protégé of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, as the party’s new chief, staring down a last-minute legal challenge from his centrist rival, François Fillon. The disputed election has sown confusion and embarrassment across France and in particular within the already bruised party, known as the U.M.P. The drawn-out battle, which has played out on live television and via social media networks, follows Mr. Sarkozy’s loss in the presidential race in May, and then the party’s defeat in legislative elections in June. Now, much like the Republican Party in the United States, the U.M.P. faces tough choices as it tries to redefine itself and work through a crisis of identity.
Mr. Copé was swift to seize the moment to call once more for party unity.
“I invite everyone to chose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition,” he said in a statement. “There is no winner or loser — just one family, the U.M.P. The time for internal squabbles is behind us.”
The tight leadership race between Mr. Copé, 48, and Mr. Fillon, 58, is as much a battle for the direction of the U.M.P. as for power. Mr. Copé wants to move the party further right to challenge the popularity of the far-right National Front and its leader, Marine Le Pen, while Mr. Fillon favors Gaullist, more centrist positions.
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Will UMP ( Movement for Popular Union) fracture and go the way of now defunct RPR and UDF which later joined to form UMP? it remains to be seen if Copé, the more conservative leader, and a close associate of Sarko can hold the right together. IMO the goal is to pave the way for Sarko's return in 2017, as well as winning the local elections in 2014 and barring the way for Marine Le Pen, who is NOT any kind of conservative, just another Statist supporting the welfare state, which is, broke.
Copé has been firm, but seeking resolution, agreeing to the recount which he won by 952 votes.
Fillon is still continuing his sore loser battle to file a lawsuit against Copé.
Sarko was mediating for a revote, but that seems unnecessary now. What a mess! A real shame when you have such a weak, vulnerable President.
Copé is very smart, an excellent organization/ management leader, outspoken and tough.
He will make an excellent party leader. IMO he is not aiming for the presidency for himself, but preparing the way for the return of Sarko in 2017.
Copé has been firm, but seeking resolution, agreeing to the recount which he won by 952 votes.
Fillon is still continuing his sore loser battle to file a lawsuit against Copé.
Sarko was mediating for a revote, but that seems unnecessary now. What a mess! A real shame when you have such a weak, vulnerable President.
Copé is very smart, an excellent organization/ management leader, outspoken and tough.
He will make an excellent party leader. IMO he is not aiming for the presidency for himself, but preparing the way for the return of Sarko in 2017.
Why ? Wasn't one failed term enough ?
I guess Mr. Fillon is a UMPINO...
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