The 2012 leadership election of theUnion for a Popular Movement(UMP), apolitical party in Francewas held on 18 November 2012.[clarification needed]It renewed the leadership structures of the UMP followingNicolas Sarkozy's defeat in the2012 presidential electionand the party's defeat in the subsequentlegislative election.The disputed results led to the first open crisis in the UMP since its creation in 2002.
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Incumbent General SecretaryJean-François Copédefeated formerPrime MinisterFrançois Fillon.
Organization
editWhile the UMP's two previous congresses in 2002 and 2004 had been held at theBourget,there was no physical congress organized in 2012 and the congress was decentralized in each departmental federation of the UMP.
Presidency of the UMP
editNicolas Sarkozywas the UMP's last president, between 2004 and 2007. Following hiselection to the presidency of France in 2007,the UMP modified its statutes to create a collegial presidency led by a secretary-general during the duration of his term in office. His defeat meant that the UMP needed to hold a new presidential election.
Candidates seeking to run for the party presidency needed to win the endorsements of at least 3% of party members (as of 30 June 2012), or 7,924 members, from at least 10 different departmental federations. Each candidate created a "ticket" with two other party members for the offices of vice-president and secretary-general of the UMP.
Candidacies, including all endorsements, were due before 18 September 2012.[1]
Presidential candidates
edit
Unsuccessful presidential candidates
edit- Henri Guaino,deputy of theYvelines's 3rd constituency, declared his candidacy on 3 September.[11]
- Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet,mayor ofLongjumeau,deputy for theEssonne's 4th constituency and former cabinet minister, announced that she had about 7000 endorsements as of 18 September and criticized the candidacy requirements.
- Bruno Le Maire,deputy for theEure's 1st constituency and former cabinet minister, also claimed around 7200 endorsements on 18 September.
- Julien Amador,[12]Dominique Hamdad-Vitré,[13]Philippe Herlin[14]and Jean-Michel Simonian,[15]grassroots party members could never hope to win the required endorsements.
Dropped out
edit- François Baroin,mayor ofTroyes,deputy for theAube's 3rd constituency and former cabinet minister did not, ultimately, run and endorsed Fillon.[16]
- Xavier Bertrand,mayorSaint-Quentin,deputy for theAisne's 2nd constituency and former cabinet minister announced that he was dropping out on 16 September although he claimed 8200 endorsements. He claimed he was dropping out to run in the 2016 primaries which will nominate the party's candidate in the2017 presidential election.
- Dominique Dord,mayor ofAix-les-Bains,deputy for theSavoie's 1st constituency and treasurer of the UMP announced his candidacy in July 2012 but dropped out on 22 August 2012, lacking endorsements.[17]
- Christian Estrosi,mayor ofNice,deputy for theAlpes-Maritimes' 5th constituency and formed cabinet minister. He dropped out in September 2012 and endorsed Fillon.
- Alain Juppé,mayor ofBordeaux,former president of the UMP (2002-2004) and former Prime Minister (1995-1997) was seen as a compromise candidate to prevent a Copé-Fillon battle.[18]In July 2012 he announced that he would not run if Jean-François Copé and François Fillon ran and that he would not endorse any candidate.[19]
Movements
editThe UMP's original statutes in 2002 allowed for the organization of formal factions or movements within the party, to represent the various political families of which it was made up. However, fearing leadership rivalries and divisions, Juppé, Chirac and later Sarkozy 'postponed' the creation of such organized movements indefinitely. Nevertheless, prior to the organizations of formal "movements" in November 2012, there existed informal groupings of like-minded members, either through associations, political clubs, associated political parties or even informal factions.
Prior to Sarkozy's defeat on 6 May, the UMP's secretary-general Jean-François Copé announced that he supported the creation of internal "movements" within the party[20]and the organization of primaries for the next presidential election.[21]
Jean-François Copéallowed for the organization of formal movements within the party following the congress. According to the party's statutes, motions backed by at least 10 parliamentarians from 10 departmental federations and which obtain at least 10% support from members at a congress are recognized as movements. They are granted financial autonomy by way of a fixed grant and additional funding in proportion to the votes they obtained; but the sum of funds transferred by the party to its movements can be no larger than 30% of the annual public subsidies the UMP receives from the state.[22]
Valid motions (declarations of principles)
editSix motions representing various ideological tendencies within the party ran to be recognized as official movements following the November 2012 congress.
- The Strong Right(La Droite forte) led byGeoffroy DidierandGuillaume Peltier
- The Social Right(La Droite sociale) led byLaurent Wauquiez
- Modern and Humanist France(France moderne et humaniste) led byLuc Chatel,Jean Léonetti,Jean-Pierre RaffarinandMarc Laffineur
- Gaullism, a way forward for France(Le Gaullisme, une voie d'avenir pour la France) led byMichèle Alliot-Marie,Henri Guaino,Roger KaroutchiandPatrick Ollier
- The Popular Right(La Droite populaire) led byThierry Mariani
- The Box of Ideas (La Boîte à idées) led by Maël de Calan, Enguerrand Delannoy, Matthieu Schlesinger and Pierre-Emmanuel Thiard
Charter of Values
editMembers were also called to approve or reject amendments to the party's charter of values.[23]
Campaign
editThe campaign between Fillon and Copé lasted two months. Fillon had a strong lead in polls of UMP 'sympathizers' (as opposed to actual members, who would be the only eligible voters) and was backed by most UMP parliamentarians[24]while Copé claimed he was the candidate of party activists rather than party 'barons'.[25]However, Copé remained as secretary-general and retained control of the party machinery.[26]
While Fillon's campaign was regarded as more consensual, moderate andcentre-right;Copé campaigned as the candidate of thedroite décomplexée('uninhibited right')[27]and introduced issues such asanti-white racism.[28]However, both candidates received support from moderate and conservative members of the party and their main differences were in rhetoric, style and temperament.[29]Copé, again, appeared more militant and activist, saying that he would support and participate in street demonstrations[30]while Fillon disagreed with his rival.[31]
Results
editCOCOE results
editThe vote on 18 November saw high turnout but was quickly marred by allegations of irregularities and potential fraud on both sides.[32]Both candidates proclaimed victory within 20 minutes of each other on the night of the vote.[33]
24 hours later, the control commission in charge of the vote (COCOE) announced Copé's victory by only 98 votes.[34]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMP | Jean-François Copé/Luc ChatelandMichèle Tabarot | 87 388 | 50.03 | |
| UMP | François Fillon/Laurent WauquiezandValérie Pécresse | 87 290 | 49.97 | |
| Total votes | 174 678 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | 176 608 | 54.35 | ||
While Fillon initially conceded defeat, by 21 November his campaign claimed victory anew, with a 26-vote advantage over Copé.[36]Fillon's campaign argued that the COCOE had failed to take into account votes cast in threeoverseas federations.
CONARE/CNR results
editAlain Juppé accepted to lead a mediation between both candidates on 23 November,[37]but it failed within two days. Fillon's announced "precautionary seizure" of ballots cast "to protect them from tampering or alteration"[38]and threatened to take the matter to court.[39]
On 26 November, the party appeals commission (CONARE or CNR) - led by a close supporter of Copé - decided in Copé's favour and rejected Fillon's arguments.[40]The CNR voided the results in three precincts favourable to Fillon (two inNice,the other wasNew Caledonia) and reintegrated the results fromMayotteandWallis-et-Futuna.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMP | Jean-François Copé/Luc ChatelandMichèle Tabarot | 86 911 | 50.28 | |
| UMP | François Fillon/Laurent WauquiezandValérie Pécresse | 85 959 | 49.72 | |
| Total votes | 172 870 | 100.00 | ||
Movements
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMP | The Strong Right | 41 758 | 27.77 | |
| UMP | The Social Right | 32 609 | 21.29 | |
| UMP | Modern and Humanist France | 27 311 | 18.17 | |
| UMP | Gaullism, a way forward for France | 18 504 | 12.31 | |
| UMP | The Popular Right | 18 504 | 12.31 | |
| UMP | The Box of Ideas | 13 822 | 9.19 | |
| Total votes | 150 348 | 100.00 | ||
| Turnout | 168 833 | 51.96 | ||
Crisis
editOn 27 November, 72fillonisteparliamentarians in theNational Assemblyannounced the creation of a new parliamentary group, theRassemblement-UMP,led by Fillon.[43]Copé took up former President Nicolas Sarkozy's proposal of organizing areferendumon a revote, but he saw the creation of the dissidentfillonistegroup as acasus belliand took back his proposal.Luc Chatel,the new vice-president and a Copé supporter, later announced that he supported a new presidential vote and a modification of party statutes.[44]The next day, Copé announced that he favoured organizing a referendum the modification of party statutes and a reduction of his own term as president to two years (until November 2014); while Fillon welcomed the "consensus on the organization of a new election" he rejected his rival's timeline and called for a new election before 2014.[45]'Unaligned' members of the UMP led byBruno Le MaireandNathalie Kosciusko-Morizetappealed for the organization of a new election in the spring of 2013 and a reform of the party statutes.[46]
Resolution
editBoth rivals reached an agreement at the end of December 2012,[47]with Copé agreeing to the organization of a new election and a modification of party statutes while Fillon agreed to dissolve his parliamentary group.
The party's leadership was reorganized in January 2013 to accommodate Copé and Fillon's supporters:Laurent WauquiezandValérie PécressejoinedLuc ChatelandMichèle Tabarotas vice-president and secretary-general respectively.Christian Estrosi,Gérard Longuet,Henri de Raincourt(pro-Fillon),Jean-Claude Gaudin,Brice HortefeuxandRoger Karoutchi(pro-Copé) also became vice-presidents. Other positions in the party hierarchy were divided between supporters of both candidates.[48]New leaders were also nominated in February 2013.
References
edit- ^"Calendrier des opérations électorales du Congrès de l'UMP | Union pour un Mouvement Populaire".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-05-30.Retrieved2013-03-16.
- ^« Loyal », Hortefeux rallie Copé,Le Figaro,21/10/2012
- ^Geoffroy Didier soutient Copé,Le Figaro,07/10/2012
- ^Guillaume Peltier: « Copé est un homme de rassemblement »,Le Figaro,06/11/2012
- ^Jean Sarkozy officialise son soutien à Jean-François Copé,Le Figaro,05/11/2012
- ^Présidence de l'UMP: Accoyer vote Fillon,Le Point,28/10/2012
- ^Benoist Apparu soutient François Fillon,Le Point,27/10/2012
- ^UMP: Xavier Bertrand se rallie à François Fillon,Le Figaro,26/10/2012
- ^UMP: Douillet n'a pas aimé les petites phrases de Copé,Le Point,10/10/2012
- ^Présidence UMP: Myard choisit Fillon,Le Figaro,28/10/2012
- ^"UMP: Guaino, un candidat sarkozyste sévère avec Fillon".Le Monde.4 September 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^"Julien Amador, le troisième inconnu de la campagne à l'UMP".Lelab.europe1.fr.Archived fromthe originalon 12 April 2013.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^"Dominique Hamdad-Vitré: le militant anti" tête d'affiche "".Lalab.europe1.fr.Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^"Philippe Herlin, le libéral-conservateur passé par le FN".Lalab.europe1.fr.Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^Jean-Michel SIMONIAN ex -Candidat à la présidence de l'UMP,Planète UMP, 3 September 2012
- ^Baroin "a priori" pas candidat20minutes.fr
- ^"Le trésorier de l'UMP soutient François Fillon".Lefigaro.fr.22 August 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^"Alain Juppé tente d'arrêter le duel Fillon-Copé".Libération.fr.24 May 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^Juppé ne briguera pas la tête de l'UMP si Copé et Fillon se lancent dans la bagarreLe Point
- ^« Copé: “Je proposerai de créer des mouvements à l'UMP” »,Le Figaro,2 May 2012
- ^Primaires 2017: "Une évidence" (Copé),Le Figaro,4 May 2012
- ^Articles 15 à 18 des statuts de l'UMPArchivedApril 18, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^[1][permanent dead link]
- ^Fillon / Copé: le match de la présidence de l'UMP en chiffresLe Huffington Post02/10/2012
- ^Jean-François Copé se pose en défenseur des militants UMPL'Express,09/09/2012
- ^UMP: pendant la campagne, Copé reste secrétaire généralL'Express,29/08/2012
- ^UMP: le projet économique « décomplexé » de CopéArchived2012-11-11 at theWayback MachineLes Echos,03/10/2012
- ^Copé dénonce l'existence d'un «racisme anti-Blanc»Le Figaro,26/09/2012
- ^Copé-Fillon: ce qui les sépareLe Figaro,26/10/2012
- ^Présidence de l'UMP: Copé envisagerait d'appeler à manifester contre l'exécutifLe Point,29/10/2012
- ^Fillon écrit aux adhérents UMP et prend ses distances avec CopéL'Express,04/11/2012
- ^Présidence UMP: le scrutin est clos, mais des files d’attente encore dans les bureaux de voteDernières Nouvelles d'Alsace,18/11/2012
- ^Copé ou Fillon? Les trois enseignements d'une soirée ubuesque à l'UMPFrance TV Info,18/11/2012
- ^Copé, la victoire au forcepsLe Figaro,20/11/2012
- ^abRésultats des élections internes on the UMP websiteArchived2012-11-27 at theWayback Machine
- ^Présidence de l'UMP: le camp Fillon revendique la victoire,Le Monde21/11/2012
- ^UMP: le président de la Commission des recours rejette les conditions de JuppéLe Point,23/11/2012
- ^Taylor, Adam."The French Right Wing Is Committing 'Live Suicide'".Business Insider.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^« Pour tout comprendre à la bataille juridique entre Copé et Fillon »,LeMonde.fr, 27 novembre 2012.
- ^Les calculs de la commission des recours favorables à M. CopéLe Monde26/11/2012
- ^« La victoire de Copé à l'UMP confirmée par la commission de recours »RTS,26/11/2012]
- ^Les calculs de la commission des recours favorables à M. CopéLe Monde26/11/2012
- ^« UMP: le groupe filloniste déposé à l'Assemblée »,Le Figaro,27/11/2012
- ^« Chatel: "Il faut redonner la parole aux militants" »Archived2013-03-25 at theWayback Machine,Le JDD,01/12/2012
- ^Fillon rejette la proposition Copé, le blocage se poursuit à l'UMPLe Monde-AFP, 02/12/2012
- ^« La crise UMP se transforme en guerre froide »,Mediapart,05/12/2012
- ^"UMP: l'accord Copé-Fillon adopté à l'unanimité par le bureau politique".LExpress.fr.18 December 2012.Retrieved23 December2018.
- ^Alexandre Lemarié,« Hortefeux, Ciotti, Morano… L’organigramme complet de la direction de l’UMP »Archived2013-01-18 at theWayback Machine,lemonde.fr,15/01/2013