Jean-François Copé Becomes French Opposition Leader Jean-François Copé, 48, was declared the winner of the leadership of France's main conservative party on Monday night by a very narrow margin, more than 24 hours after results had been expected. Mr. Copé, right, beat the favored former prime minister, François Fillon, by 50.03 percent to 49.97 percent - only 98 votes - according to official results. The campaign was bitter, with charges of fraud, and will do little to improve the image of the party, the Union for a Popular Movement, which lost the presidential election in May and the legislature in June.