By Christian Smith, DENISAURUS News

Former Prime Minister, François Fillon has been selected as the Conservatives’ candidate in next year’s French presidential election by a landslide at party primaries.

Mr Fillon won 66.5 percent to 33.5 percent for his run-off rival, Alain Juppe, in Sunday’s run-off.

The socially conservative who served as prime minister from 2007-2012 under Nicolas Sarkozy had garnered around 44 percent of the vote in the first round of the primary last week in which five other candidates were eliminated.

Mr Juppé, 71, congratulated Fillon on his “wide victory.”

Another of Mr Fillon’s challenger, former president Sarkozy sent a message in which he extended “sincere congratulations to François Fillon for his victory tonight and wish him luck in the political battle that awaits him.

“I also have warm words for Alain Juppé, who has stood up for his beliefs and his ideas throughout this campaign.

“The time has come for our political family to henceforth gather around François Fillon to guarantee the change France needs more than ever in 2017,” he said.

Mr Fillon plans to carry out deep reforms in France. The 62-year-old made this known in a victory speech, saying: “I will take up an unusual challenge for France: tell the truth and completely change its software,” he said.

The French election will take place on May 7th but, it is not yet certain whether Socialist President François Hollande will seek re-election.