Socialist Hollande favourite to challenge Sarkozy

FRENCH Socialist lawmaker Francois Hollande was crowned favourite for next year’s presidential election yesterday, winning the left’s primary to choose a challenger for Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy, the right-wing incumbent, is all but certain to run for re-election, but recent opinion polls show him on course to lose, and Hollande’s victory will serve as a springboard for his challenge.

With most of up to three million votes counted, Hollande had an unassailable lead over Socialist leader Martine Aubry, who conceded.