Update: Later Friday morning, it was confirmed that Segolene Royal was elected the Socialist candidate to run for the French presidency.
As of early Friday, French Television exit polls suggest that Segolene Royal will be the Socialist party's candidate for President. Royal, 53, has apparently swept past her two main rivals, former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.
If Royal is confirmed as the Socialist nomination in Thursday's ballot, she could become France's first female president. Of course she'll have to fend off expected challengers Nikolas Sarkozy and possibly Dominique deVillepin in the election next spring. A Socialist party official told Agence France Presse that voters had made "a clear choice."
AFP photo
Go, Ségolène, go! I'll be voting for her, for sure...
Posted by: Rethabile | 20 November 2006 at 21:07
Had dinner last night with some new French friends and they were horrified by her election to represent her party; one of them is a socialist, too. They said she got something like 64% of the vote? From a party who weeks ago was reputed to "hate her"?
French politics will be very interesting to follow; I haven't been here long enough to have formed an opinion. But I do wonder if France is finally ready for a woman president, just like I wonder if the U.S. is ready. But ready or not, maybe it's time!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 18 November 2006 at 23:17
I've been reading about her, too. She seems very impressive.
Posted by: patry | 18 November 2006 at 07:26
I had never heard of her. After reading various accounts, I'd have to say that she is more attractive the De Gaulle!
Posted by: Scott | 18 November 2006 at 06:59
I heard a bit about her on NPR tonight -- seems like she has a certain "je ne sais quoi!" France's first female president? Tres, tres bien!
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 18 November 2006 at 06:25
I saw her on TV the night before last and I must say, she came across very charismatic. The best female politician I have seen in ages...
These days, policies and politics are driven by more factors than party manifestos. Although the idea of a socialist (left wing) party may seem extremely out-dated, the actual governance of the country may well be a matter of dynamics and 'management', much like the concept of 'demand and supply'. Then again, that is only my opinion.
My feminist in me is quite excited about Segolene as the first ever female leader of France.
Lurvely;-)
Posted by: Nina | 17 November 2006 at 22:30
I also heard this on the Norwegian news last night.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 17 November 2006 at 16:45
It was front page news in our newspaper (The Globe and Mail), and I read about it at the office today!
Posted by: Colette | 17 November 2006 at 04:27
verrrrry interesting - :)
i shall go google her :)
Posted by: sophie | 17 November 2006 at 02:24