Ex-French President Sarkozy knocked out of presidential race in conservative primary

Nicolas Sarkozy throws in the towel after losing in Republican primary

(Image credit: BBC/YouTube)

last updated 21 November 2016

On Nov. 27, two former French prime ministers, Fracois Fillon and Alain Juppé, will square off in a runoff election to determine which one of them represents the center-right Republican party in the next presidential election, after both beat former President Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday's Republican primary election. Fillon, a hard-line conservative who promises to cut 500,000 public sector jobs and end the 35-hour workweek, did better than expected, winning 44 percent of the vote to Juppé's 29 percent and Sarkozy's 21 percent.

The winner of the Nov. 27 runoff will likely face far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen next May. The French left is in disarray under unpopular President Francois Hollande's Socialist government, though if Fillon beats the more centrist Juppé, some French analysts say the left could fill the void in the center and find new life. You can learn more in the BBC News report below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.