Martine Aubry, leader of France’s opposition socialists, on Friday set out long-awaited plans to save her beleaguered party from implosion, promising to “renew it from A to Z”.

Opening her party’s annual conference in La Rochelle, Ms Aubry promised a system of primaries open to non-socialists to choose the next presidential candidate in 2011, curbs on members holding multiple elected offices, an overhaul of internal procedures and a nationwide consultation with members.