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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French Socialists pick candidate | French Socialists pick candidate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| French Socialists will vote later on Thursday to choose who will represent the party in next year's election for a new president. | |
| The favourite for the nomination, Segolene Royal, will be selected automatically if she wins an overall majority among party members. | The favourite for the nomination, Segolene Royal, will be selected automatically if she wins an overall majority among party members. |
| Failure to achieve that would force a second round of voting next week. | Failure to achieve that would force a second round of voting next week. |
| All three candidates held final rallies in front of their own supporters on Wednesday night. | All three candidates held final rallies in front of their own supporters on Wednesday night. |
| The final stages of the campaign have been marked by some strong attacks by the rival candidates on each other. | The final stages of the campaign have been marked by some strong attacks by the rival candidates on each other. |
| 'Chauvinistic comments' | 'Chauvinistic comments' |
| Recent days have seen attempts by supporters of Segolene Royal's rivals to destabilise her campaign. | Recent days have seen attempts by supporters of Segolene Royal's rivals to destabilise her campaign. |
| Teachers have reacted angrily after a video appeared on the internet featuring a party meeting earlier this year in which she said they should work longer hours in school. | Teachers have reacted angrily after a video appeared on the internet featuring a party meeting earlier this year in which she said they should work longer hours in school. |
| She responded by highlighting what she described as "chauvinistic comments" made by her rival candidates, something they strongly deny. | She responded by highlighting what she described as "chauvinistic comments" made by her rival candidates, something they strongly deny. |
| The former Finance Minister, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has attacked her policies as incoherent. | The former Finance Minister, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has attacked her policies as incoherent. |
| The other candidate, former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, has said the destiny of the political left is at stake. | The other candidate, former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, has said the destiny of the political left is at stake. |
| The latest opinion polls still give Segolene Royal a significant lead over her rivals. | The latest opinion polls still give Segolene Royal a significant lead over her rivals. |
| But the surveys have been carried out among Socialist supporters, not the actual party members who will be voting. | But the surveys have been carried out among Socialist supporters, not the actual party members who will be voting. |
| If she fails to win an outright majority, an alliance of her opponents could pose a serious threat in a second round. | If she fails to win an outright majority, an alliance of her opponents could pose a serious threat in a second round. |