Without official figures, the two camps cling to their position and their elements of language, while awaiting information from the commission for the consolidation of the results, which began to meet on Friday morning.

The outgoing leadership claims that Olivier Faure, who defends the left alliance Nupes, with LFI, the PCF and EELV concluded in May, will have a majority in the National Council of the party (a kind of party parliament), because he would have obtained between 49 .5 and 51% of the votes on its orientation text submitted to the vote on Thursday evening.

But Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, who would have collected around 31% of the vote by placing himself on a more critical line vis-à-vis the Nupes, assures that his rival would cap at 48.5%, which makes him "minority" and therefore "unable to lead the party".

Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, December 16, 2022 in Paris © Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP/Archives

The vote of the members counts for two-thirds in the composition of the National Council, the remainder being obtained by the elections of the first federal secretaries.

Those close to Olivier Faure claim that a majority of these departmental leaders support the outgoing, when his opponents claim to be able to tip it into their camp.

The third candidate, Hélène Geoffroy, mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, who wanted to leave Nupes, obtained around 20% according to the first feedback.

The members will vote again next Thursday to formally choose their First Secretary.

Hélène Geoffroy, mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin and candidate for the post of First Secretary of the Socialist Party, on January 5, 2023 in Paris © Martin BUREAU / AFP/Archives

Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol repeated Friday morning in front of the press that he was "the only one who can gather" and win, because "the outgoing management does not reach a consensus".

As since the start of the campaign, he warned that a victory for Olivier Faure would entail a risk of "a split in the party".

His spokesperson Lamia El Aaraje warned that if the commission gave a result higher than 48.5% for Olivier Faure, "we will not validate these figures".

Each camp also reports reports of irregularities from opposing federations and supporters.

"They know they can no longer win the party, they will try to confuse," said a close friend of Olivier Faure.

Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol is counting in particular on the votes of the voters of Hélène Geoffroy, hostile to Olivier Faure or even the rallying of abstainers.

About 22,000 members would have voted on Thursday, out of 41,000 potential voters.

© 2023 AFP