Royal ambition to lead France splits Socialists

Article reports that civil war in France's Socialist opposition party moved closer, November 2008, as Ségolène Royal, the former presidential candidate, prepared to defy the party's establishment and launch a leadership bid.

The party's annual congress in Reims, November 2008, - that was meant to back a single candidate - ended in disarray. The leadership issue would now be decided by the party's rank-and-file members on the 20 November 2008.

BBC News, 17.11.08: French Socialists dogged by rows http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7733825.stm

Spiegel Online Internationa, 17.11.08: France's Squabbling Socialists http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,590886,00.html

France24, 17.11.08: Paris mayor Delanoë reluctantly backs Aubry http://www.france24.com/en/20081117-paris-mayor-delanoe-reluctantly-calls-vote-aubry-socialist-party-france&navi=FRANCE

ESO: Background information: Royal aims to lead French Socialists http://www.europeansources.info/record/royal-aims-to-lead-french-socialists/

France24, 13.11.08: Ségolène Royal remains ambiguous on leadership bid http://www.france24.com/en/20081113-segolene-royal-remains-ambiguous-leadership-bid-france&navi=FRANCE

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