Jospin withdraws from election race

FORMER French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin yesterday said he would not seek to become the Socialist Party’s candidate for presidential elections next year.

Mr Jospin’s withdrawal from the already acrimonious race made it only more likely that Segolene Royal will represent the Socialists at the elections next spring.

A darling of opinion polls, Ms Royal could wrap up the nomination as soon as November 16, when Socialists vote to choose their candidate. Should that first round produce no clear winner, a second round is planned for November 23.