Sarkozy elected to lead France’s conservative opposition party UMP

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy took a step toward a possible 2017 Presidential re-election bid by winning the leadership of the conservative party UMP (Popular Movement) on the 29 November 2014.

The UMP will choose its presidential nominee in 2016. Former prime ministers Alain Juppe and Francois Fillon were widely reported to want also to be the UMP's candidate for president.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 29.11.14: Nicolas Sarkozy wins French opposition UMP party vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30264534

ESO: Background information: French politics rocked by claims of anti-Sarkozy plot http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-politics-rocked-by-claims-of-anti-sarkozy-plot/

ESO: Background information: Ex-president Sarkozy announces return to French politics http://www.europeansources.info/record/ex-president-sarkozy-announces-return-to-french-politics/

The Local.fr, 29.11.14: Sarkozy tipped to lead French presidency bid http://www.thelocal.fr/20141129/sarkozy-tipped-to-lead-party-in-new-charge-for-french-presidency

Deutsche Welle, 29.11.14: Sarkozy tipped to claim UMP party leadership http://dw.de/p/1Dwwm

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 01.12.14: Sarkozy once again heads UMP http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER154560-Sarkozy-once-again-heads-UMP

Blog: Open Europe, 01.12.14: Sarkozy wins back party leadership, but road to French presidential election remains very long http://www.openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/sarkozy-wins-back-party-leadership-but.html

The Local.fr, 30.11.14: Sarkozy elected to head up French opposition http://www.thelocal.fr/20141130/sarkozy-elected-to-head-up-french-opposition

Le Croix, 30.11.14: Ex-president must unite his party (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154511-Ex-president-must-unite-his-party

FT, 30.11.14: Sarkozy has already failed once (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154491-Sarkozy-has-already-failed-once

France, 01.12.14: Sarkozy calls for UMP unity after narrow leadership win http://www.france24.com/en/20141201-sarkozy-elected-opposition-leader-calls-unity/

The Conversation, 02.12.14: Sarkozy sets his sights on 2017 election as rivals flounder https://theconversation.com/sarkozy-sets-his-sights-on-2017-election-as-rivals-flounder-34561

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