France’s much-diminished Socialist Party has turned to a traditional leftwinger to try to restore its popularity and end the feuding that nearly destroyed it under President Hollande, reports The Times.
Olivier Faure, 49, the socialist parliamentary leader who is near unknown to the public, became party leader today after Stéphane Le Foll, his closest rival, dropped out of the race following a first-round vote by party members.
Mr Faure, who won 50 per cent compared with Mr Le Foll’s 25 per cent in the four-way contest, was spared a run-off against Mr Le Foll.
Acknowledging defeat, Mr Le Foll, a former agriculture minister, said that his campaign had been damaged by being a senior member in Mr Hollande’s administration.
Read more of this report from The Times (subscription).