Deadlock in race to lead socialists in France

A closely fought race between two women to become the new leader of France’s Socialist Party has ended in a dead heat, a senior party official said early today.

Former presidential candidate Segolene Royal and Martine Aubry, the architect of the country’s 35-hour work week, were running neck-and-neck, said Daniel Vaillant, a former interior minister.

“Given that the results are extremely close, I am unable, at this time, to say who will emerge as the winner,” said Mr Vaillant, speaking on behalf of the left-wing party’s leadership.

Voting continued in some of France’s overseas territories and the handful of votes produced by these former colonial dependencies could tip the election one way or another.

Early returns suggested voting was split almost clean down the middle. The uncertain outcome will further complicate the task of the winner, who must remould the splintered party to challenge conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy in the next general elections in 2012.

The Socialists’ national secretary Razzy Hamadi had said earlier Saturday that the polls appeared to narrowly favour Ms Aubry.

A source close to Ms Aubry claimed she had won 50.5 % of the vote versus 49.5 % for Ms Royal, based on a tally of 94 % of total votes.

Ms Royal’s camp, however, refused to concede the race.

“We won’t let this victory be stolen from us,” vowed her close ally Manuel Valls.

Mr Vaillant called for both sides to hold off from any statements for the time being. “That is not how we are going to get out of a really tough spot,” he said.

It was unclear when a final result could be expected, as votes may have to be recounted if the results are disputed by either side.

The winner will be the Socialist Party’s first female leader, and will have to resolve disputes over whether the party should shift toward the centre or reach to the vocal far left.

The party hopes to reverse its losing streak in the 2012 national vote, after conceding three presidential elections since Socialist President Francois Mitterrand’s 1981-1995 tenure.