French conservatives, whose party has been locked in an acrimonious leadership struggle for months after losing national elections to the Socialists, agreed on Monday to hold a new vote before October, reports The Chicago Tribune.
The deal raised the prospect of a return to business as usual for the UMP, distracted from its role as the leading opposition party since Jean-Francois Cope and former Prime Minister Francois Fillon both claimed to have won a leadership vote six weeks ago to replace former President Nicolas Sarkozy.
A statement issued after a lengthy meeting between Cope and Fillon on Monday said they had agreed to hold a re-run of the vote before parliament reconvenes after its summer break in October 2013.
Cope, former budget minister and apparent winner of the contested November 18 vote, had originally proposed a new vote in 2014.
Fillon's supporters welcomed the agreement but called for guarantees to avoid any repeat of voting irregularities which tarnished the first election.
An independent authority will be charged with organizing the election and ensuring the candidates receive equal resources from the party, the statement said.
The deal fended off the prospect of a breakup following weeks of vicious public exchanges, an internal split formalized by the formation of a new centre right in parliament run by Fillon, and a failed mediation effort by Sarkozy.
Read more of this report from The Chicago Tribune.