Brussels, 21/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The French right-wing party, the UMP, selected eight figures on Wednesday to lead the lists for the regional elections, as well as for next June's European elections. They are as follows: - former minister for the Environment Roselyne Bachelot in the west; - current secretary of state for sustainable development Tokia Saïfi in the north; - the president of LICRA Patrick Gaubert in the Ile-de-France; - outgoing delegate Alain Lamassoure in the south west; - outgoing delegate Françoise Grossetête in the south east; - outgoing delegate Joseph Daul in the east; - Brice Hortefeux in the centre of the country; - outgoing delegate Margie Sudre for overseas territories. The lists will be completed on 9 May by the national UMP council.
The former president of the European Parliament and former minister for Industry Nicole Fontaine, who had stated that she wanted to head the list, was not chosen to head the list after all.