War Of The Roses

摘要

For a party that has not won a presidential election in 20 years, the French Socialists are doing a spectacular job of keeping themselves unelectable. After a bitterly contested vote to pick a new leader, the party's national executive this week confirmed the victory of Martine Aubry over Segolene Royal, by a wafer-thin margin of 102 votes out of 134,800 cast by members. The Socialists may have a new boss, but the outcome leaves the party divided, the candidates at each other's throats, and the rank-and-file nauseous.rnThe first count put Ms Aubry ahead by 42 votes. Both sides cried foul, with Ms Royal's lieutenants alleging fraud and cheating, and demanding a rerun. After two days of debate, the national executive pronounced Ms Aubry the victor. Ms Royal has accepted the vote grudgingly, adding that she would remain in the party.