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| France elections: Socialists choose candidate in final vote | France elections: Socialists choose candidate in final vote |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| France's governing Socialist party is set to choose its candidate for the presidential election in April. | France's governing Socialist party is set to choose its candidate for the presidential election in April. |
| Manuel Valls, a former prime minister, and left-wing Benoit Hamon are both contesting the run-off vote on Sunday. | Manuel Valls, a former prime minister, and left-wing Benoit Hamon are both contesting the run-off vote on Sunday. |
| But outgoing President Francois Hollande, a fellow Socialist, is deeply unpopular and may affect the party's chances in the April election. | |
| Conservative Francois Fillon, right-wing Marine Le Pen, and centrist Emmanuel Macron lead the polls. | Conservative Francois Fillon, right-wing Marine Le Pen, and centrist Emmanuel Macron lead the polls. |
| Sunday's Socialist primary has seen Mr Hamon, 49, suddenly surge in popularity with a range of liberal proposals, including a proposal for a universal monthly income for all citizens. | Sunday's Socialist primary has seen Mr Hamon, 49, suddenly surge in popularity with a range of liberal proposals, including a proposal for a universal monthly income for all citizens. |
| Mr Valls, however, contends that his experience as prime minister between 2014 and 2016, as well as his previous ministerial experience, make him a superior candidate. | Mr Valls, however, contends that his experience as prime minister between 2014 and 2016, as well as his previous ministerial experience, make him a superior candidate. |
| Both emerged from a seven-way primary last weekend to enter the run-off race. | Both emerged from a seven-way primary last weekend to enter the run-off race. |
| But polls suggest neither is likely to retain the presidency for his party. | But polls suggest neither is likely to retain the presidency for his party. |
| Mr Hollande, facing extremely low popularity ratings, announced in December that he would not run for re-election. | Mr Hollande, facing extremely low popularity ratings, announced in December that he would not run for re-election. |
| The presidential race has taken a turn in recent days, with the favourite for the post, Francois Fillon, becoming embroiled in a controversy over payments to his wife for political work - which a French publication claimed there was no evidence she carried out. | The presidential race has taken a turn in recent days, with the favourite for the post, Francois Fillon, becoming embroiled in a controversy over payments to his wife for political work - which a French publication claimed there was no evidence she carried out. |
| Mr Fillon denies the allegations, and said he would drop out of the race if there was enough evidence to launch an investigation. | Mr Fillon denies the allegations, and said he would drop out of the race if there was enough evidence to launch an investigation. |
| The scandal could potentially be a boost for Marine Le Pen, the anti-immigration hardliner who has pledged to put "native" French people first. | The scandal could potentially be a boost for Marine Le Pen, the anti-immigration hardliner who has pledged to put "native" French people first. |
| For years, France's established parties have drifted to the centre ground and voter apathy has grown - which may explain the emergence of Mr Hamon as a contender in Sunday's Socialist primary. | For years, France's established parties have drifted to the centre ground and voter apathy has grown - which may explain the emergence of Mr Hamon as a contender in Sunday's Socialist primary. |
| If he wins, the main left-wing party will once again embrace its traditional positions on workers' rights, redistribution, civil liberties and the environment. | If he wins, the main left-wing party will once again embrace its traditional positions on workers' rights, redistribution, civil liberties and the environment. |
| That would likely affect the other candidates - potentially diverting centrist votes to liberal former banker Emmanuel Macron, whose growing popularity is starting to worry Marine Le Pen's party, the National Front. | That would likely affect the other candidates - potentially diverting centrist votes to liberal former banker Emmanuel Macron, whose growing popularity is starting to worry Marine Le Pen's party, the National Front. |
| But while Sunday's vote will choose a candidate for the Socialists, the true presidential election does not take place until 23 April. | But while Sunday's vote will choose a candidate for the Socialists, the true presidential election does not take place until 23 April. |