Former president Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party is holding emergency meetings to try to figure out who is in charge after a disputed election for its new leader that could reshape French politics.

The Union for a Popular Movement, France's leading opposition movement, is in shambles a week after the election.

It split party members into those leaning toward the anti-immigrant far right, represented by Jean-Francois Cope, and those hewing to more centrist views, supporting Francois Fillon.

Mr Cope was declared winner but later uncounted votes were discovered that could swing the vote in Mr Fillon's favour. A UMP commission that handles vote disputes is meeting on Sunday morning to discuss what to do.

On Sunday evening, former prime minister Alain Juppe is to meet with both candidates to try to mediate a solution.

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