2004 Union for a Popular Movement leadership election explained

Election Name:2004 Union for a Popular Movement leadership election
Country:France
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2002 Union for a Popular Movement leadership election
Previous Year:2002
Next Election:2012 Union for a Popular Movement leadership election
Next Year:2012
Candidate1:Nicolas Sarkozy
Party1:Union for a Popular Movement
Popular Vote1:60,266
Percentage1:85.09%
Candidate2:Nicolas Dupont-Aignan
Party2:Arise the Republic
Popular Vote2:6,443
Percentage2:9.10%
Candidate3:Christine Boutin
Party3:Union for a Popular Movement
Popular Vote3:4,121
Percentage3:5.82%
President
Before Election:Alain Juppé
After Election:Nicolas Sarkozy

The 2004 Union for a Popular Movement leadership election was held on November 28, 2004 to elect the leadership of the French Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un mouvement populaire, UMP). The congress was organized after the UMP's first president, Alain Juppé, was forced to resign from the party's presidency following his conviction in a corruption scandal.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the finance minister and main intraparty rival of incumbent President Jacques Chirac easily won the UMP's presidency and thereafter focused the party machinery on his candidacy in the 2007 presidential election.

Presidential candidates

Candidates seeking to run for the party presidency needed to win the endorsements of at least 3% of party members. Each candidate created a "ticket" with two other party members for the offices of vice-president and secretary-general of the UMP.

Minister of the Economy, Finances and Industry; mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine (ex-RPR)

mayor of Yerres and deputy for the Essonne's 8th constituency; leader of Arise the Republic (DLR) (ex-RPR)

deputy for the Yvelines' 10th constituency, leader of the Forum of Social Republicans (FRS) (ex-UDF)