Battle Royal looms for France's Socialists

[FernBell]

The woman hoping to become France's first Madame la Présidente faces a big hurdle today in the race for the Elysée Palace as Socialist Party members vote to choose their candidate for next year's elections.

Ségolène Royal, dubbed "the Madonna of the polls" because of her public popularity over the past year, said she was confident of victory, despite the fact that her lead has recently narrowed over her two rivals, the former prime minister Laurent Fabius and the former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Ms Royal, 53, a former junior minister who came out of nowhere to become France's most talked-about politician, said she had emerged strengthened from a month of primary campaigning, including six debates with her opponents.

"It was the other two who wanted these debates because they doubted my capabilities. But ... my legitimacy is no longer in question," she said.

"I am the only one who can win against the Right. I embody the profound change people are crying out for. Many see me as the candidate against the powers that be. For the symbolic father of the nation to be a woman - now that's a revolution."


http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1694202006

[StrictlyRockers]

1. Dang, she's a babe, she's smart and she's a Socialist? I am in LOVE....

sigh

[Greeby]

3. And as anyone who has seen those beach pics will testify

She looks amazing at 53 :loveya:

[Vidar]

2. Wishing her the best.

[Rochambeau]

4. Her victory is total now

There will be no runoff because she has got more than 50% of the votes (55/60% at this moment). I'm very very happy because I strongly supported her.

The next Presidential election : Segolène Royal vs Nicolas Sarkosy (french Bush's poodle boy)