leftwinger likely to win french socialist ticket
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Leftwinger likely to win French Socialist ticket

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Leftwinger likely to win French Socialist ticket

Benoit Hamon
Paris - Arab Today

Radical left-winger Benoit Hamon looked well-placed on Monday to become the Socialist contender in France's presidential election after winning the first round of a candidate-selection contest, but the ultimate goal of becoming president seemed as remote as ever.

Voters will have a clear choice in the January 29 runoff of the Socialist primary between the markedly more left-wing Hamon and former prime minister Manuel Valls, a moderate Socialist who came second in Sunday's opening round. 

Hamon wants, among other things, to legalise cannabis and establish a basic state income level of 600 euros per month for all adults.

Hamon's breakthrough, which quickly won the support of party grandees such as Arnaud Montebourg and Martine Aubry, marks a resurgence of a more traditional Left after five years of more pro-business leadership under President Francois Hollande.

But beyond the personal triumph for Hamon and the fallout for his party, analysts doubt any such victory would significantly improve dismal prospects facing any Socialist candidate in the presidential election, which takes place on April 23 and May 7.

It stands, ironically, to boost Emmanuel Macron, a centrist whom pollsters put in third place in the race for the Elysee behind right-winger Francois Fillon and far-right leader Marine Le Pen - the two candidates whom polls tip to make it to the May 7 presidential runoff.

By signalling a lurch to the left, a Hamon win in the Socialist primary will boost Macron's prospects of drawing votes from moderate left-wingers after Valls exits.

"From here on, there are three contenders who could make the second round of the presidential contest: Fillon, Le Pen and Macron," said Bruno Cavalier, chief economist at Oddo Securities and a long-time observer of the French political scene.

Opinion polls show no Socialist is likely to win the presidency after the unpopular rule of Hollande.

With Valls out of the picture, Macron, an independent who says he wants to transcend the traditional Left-Right divide, would be well placed to pick up much of the centre ground and grab second place in the opening round of the presidential ballot on April 23. That would get him into the May 7 runoff.

Hamon, who was sacked from government by Hollande in 2014 for criticising his economic policies, took more than 36 per cent of votes versus 31 for Valls in the first round of the Socialist primary.

Buoying his prospects for next Sunday, the former education minister won the endorsement of Montebourg, another left-winger and primary candidate who came in third with 18 per cent. Aubry, now mayor of Lille and another pillar of the Socialist party, also said she would back Hamon.

This year's primary, open to anyone of voting age, drew just 1.6 and 1.7 million of France's 44 million-plus voters.

Macron, 39, was an economy minister in Hollande's Socialist government but he has never been elected to office and remains a largely unknown factor on the political scene he wants to shake up.

He is a former investment banker who oversaw liberalisation of Sunday shop opening and bus transport but has yet to produce an official presidential election programme to be judged by.

Source :Times Of Oman

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

leftwinger likely to win french socialist ticket leftwinger likely to win french socialist ticket

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

leftwinger likely to win french socialist ticket leftwinger likely to win french socialist ticket

 



GMT 04:22 2017 Tuesday ,26 December

Israel in touch with '10 countries' over embassy moves

GMT 19:43 2017 Friday ,06 October

Employee safety top priority at Khalifa Port

GMT 16:19 2017 Friday ,28 April

ISIS Suspect Arrested in Western Germany

GMT 12:57 2017 Monday ,11 December

50 Students Poisoned by Contaminated Well Water

GMT 16:31 2017 Thursday ,10 August

Palestinians will discuss decline of aids

GMT 21:15 2017 Saturday ,04 March

Obama never ordered surveillance on any US citizen

GMT 10:00 2017 Thursday ,09 March

Russia ‘can be good friends with GCC’

GMT 02:13 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Russian helicopter crash kills 19 in Siberia

GMT 13:23 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Lebanon PM Hariri rescinds resignation

GMT 00:39 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Gunmen kill cleric in Aden, southern Yemen

GMT 11:43 2016 Thursday ,24 November

Will learn from Euro exit

GMT 06:56 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

US ‘not taking sides’ between Iraqi forces, Kurds

GMT 19:59 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Syrian opposition's chief negotiator arrives in Astana
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday