Benoit Hamon wins the fight for the soul of French Socialism
euronews (in English)
2017-01-29
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The Socialist Party in France has chosen radical leftist Benoit Hamon as its candidate for the country’s upcoming presidential election.
More than 1.3 million voters took part in the run-off vote on Sunday.
It pitted Hamon against ex-premier and more centrist candidate, Manuel Valls who polled 41.35% of the vote.
Hardline Hamon wins French Socialist presidential race https://t.co/9ieE3eYVpE pic.twitter.com/70DLrVlGzM— euronews (@euronews) January 29, 2017
#PrimaireGauche manuelvalls : "Benoit Hamon est désormais le candidat de notre famille politique." pic.twitter.com/QEU4Mun7nz— Public Sénat (publicsenat) January 29, 2017
What was the turnout like?
The organisers say it was higher than in last Sunday’s first round.
Organiser Christophe Borgel says at least 1.3 million people had voted by 1700 CET in 75% of polling stations which had reported turnout figures.
That is compared with at least one million voters a the same time last week, confirming indications of stronger turnout from earlier in the day.
Borgel said like-for-like figures showed an increase of 22.8% in turnout.
Polling opened at 0900 CET in the runoff.
Who is currently ahead in the presidential polls?
The two frontrunners are conservative Francois Fillon and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Fillon, however, is currently embroiled in a scandal over his wife being employed as his parliamentary assistant.
An official inquiry has been opened into the claims.
He was due to be holding a rally on Sunday on the outskirts of Paris for his supporters.
Polls had shown Fillon beating Le Pen in a presidential run-off vote on May the 7th, with a comfortable two-thirds of the vote.
Ratings have since suggested his popularity has dipped slightly, although there have been no polls on voting intentions since the scandal broke.
France: Ipsos, I tour:
Le Pen 27%
Fillon 26%
Macron 20%
II tour: Fillon leads MLP by 24, Macron leads MLP & Fillon https://t.co/eXriBKBU3B pic.twitter.com/dbxtzItKBZ— Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) January 22, 2017
Political back-scratching
Analysts say Hamon’s victory could help decide the fortune of other candidates, even if the Socialists have little chance of succeeding President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace.
How?
Hamon’s victory could boost Emmanuel Macron’s chances by pushing Valls’ centre-left supporters into the centrist former investment banker’s arms.
Hamon, a former education minister, was kicked out of Valls’ government in 2014 for differences over economic policy.
Party members have told journalists, on condition of anonymity, that a win by Hamon would accelerate an influx of moderate Socialist lawmakers towards Macron.
Some are predicting the refusal of the most pro-business wing of the party to rally behind a more radical leftist could hasten the break-up of the Socialist Party.
It has been one of the main poli
More than 1.3 million voters took part in the run-off vote on Sunday.
It pitted Hamon against ex-premier and more centrist candidate, Manuel Valls who polled 41.35% of the vote.
Hardline Hamon wins French Socialist presidential race https://t.co/9ieE3eYVpE pic.twitter.com/70DLrVlGzM— euronews (@euronews) January 29, 2017
#PrimaireGauche manuelvalls : "Benoit Hamon est désormais le candidat de notre famille politique." pic.twitter.com/QEU4Mun7nz— Public Sénat (publicsenat) January 29, 2017
What was the turnout like?
The organisers say it was higher than in last Sunday’s first round.
Organiser Christophe Borgel says at least 1.3 million people had voted by 1700 CET in 75% of polling stations which had reported turnout figures.
That is compared with at least one million voters a the same time last week, confirming indications of stronger turnout from earlier in the day.
Borgel said like-for-like figures showed an increase of 22.8% in turnout.
Polling opened at 0900 CET in the runoff.
Who is currently ahead in the presidential polls?
The two frontrunners are conservative Francois Fillon and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Fillon, however, is currently embroiled in a scandal over his wife being employed as his parliamentary assistant.
An official inquiry has been opened into the claims.
He was due to be holding a rally on Sunday on the outskirts of Paris for his supporters.
Polls had shown Fillon beating Le Pen in a presidential run-off vote on May the 7th, with a comfortable two-thirds of the vote.
Ratings have since suggested his popularity has dipped slightly, although there have been no polls on voting intentions since the scandal broke.
France: Ipsos, I tour:
Le Pen 27%
Fillon 26%
Macron 20%
II tour: Fillon leads MLP by 24, Macron leads MLP & Fillon https://t.co/eXriBKBU3B pic.twitter.com/dbxtzItKBZ— Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) January 22, 2017
Political back-scratching
Analysts say Hamon’s victory could help decide the fortune of other candidates, even if the Socialists have little chance of succeeding President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace.
How?
Hamon’s victory could boost Emmanuel Macron’s chances by pushing Valls’ centre-left supporters into the centrist former investment banker’s arms.
Hamon, a former education minister, was kicked out of Valls’ government in 2014 for differences over economic policy.
Party members have told journalists, on condition of anonymity, that a win by Hamon would accelerate an influx of moderate Socialist lawmakers towards Macron.
Some are predicting the refusal of the most pro-business wing of the party to rally behind a more radical leftist could hasten the break-up of the Socialist Party.
It has been one of the main poli
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