Reuters: Thatcher admirer Fillon wins French conservative presidential ticket

Published Nov. 28, 2016 at 2:39 pm

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 25, 2016 shows Francois Fillon, candidate for the right-wing primaries ahead of the 2017 presidential election poses for a photo session in Paris.Francois Fillon, a conservative reformist promising to shrink the French state, on November 27, 2016 clinched the rightwing nomination for next year's presidential election with a resounding victory over his rival Alain Juppe. Ex-prime minister Fillon, 62, will now become a favourite to be France's next leader after winning the US-style primary to pick the nominee of the Republicans party and its allies.

Photo by AFP

Hardline reformist Francois Fillon scored a resounding win in France’s conservative primaries on Nov. 27, making him favorite to win a presidential election five months from now against the popular far-right and a deeply divided left.

Fillon, a former prime minister who wants to raise the retirement age, cut back social security and scrap the 35-hour working week, would easily beat National Front leader Marine Le Pen in a run-off second round, a flash opinion poll said right after his primaries victory.