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IONDON PRIMARY
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French lessons
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ln 201 1 the French Socialist party embraced the principle of an 'open primary' to select its candidate forthe presidential election
voters were given the chance to take part in the selection process. In fact, in order to
both in France and across the world. To ensure maximum legitimacy, an oversight body, comprising a prominent lawyer, a law professor and a specialist in ethics, was charged with registering the candidates, monitoring the elections and announcing the final results. To be declared the winne candidate needed to receive more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast. lf no candidate received this, a second round was to be organised between the two leading first-rou nd candidates. Over 2.5 million people voted in the first round and in the second this number rose to around three million. Moreove the televised debate between the two second-round candidates was a huge success, attracting an audience of around
a
pafticipate voters needed simply to sign a charter pledging allegiance to the values of the left and to pay a symbolic contribution of
at least ! 1;they did not need to be members of the Socialist party. For the first time in France, a presidential candidate was chosen