French Right Picks the Woman Who Runs Paris Region to Take On Macron

Valerie Pecresse, center, was named Les Republicains’s presidential candidate after a primary  in Paris, on Dec. 4. 

Photographer: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
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France’s Republicans nominated their first woman presidential candidate in a primary that sharpened the focus of the challenge facing Emmanuel Macron in next year’s election.

Valerie Pecresse won the final round of the conservative’s ballot on Saturday after 61% of members backed her. Eric Ciotti, a lawmaker from southern France often compared to far-right rival Eric Zemmour, took 39%.