Ségo site is for sore eyes

DAYS after critics lambasted the 'cheap' new look on Ségolène Royal's website its appearance has changed again.

Replacing the 'sunrise over the prairie' landscape and silver font is a purple 'potato stamp' look and the announcement that the site will change every week to reflect regional ideas.

Bloggers were quick to denounce the new look for Royal's site www.desirsdavenir.org when it relaunched on Tuesday afternoon.

"Tell me, is this a fake, a hoax, a bug or a joke?" said web producer Nicolas Voisin.

A statement from website organisers said they were trying to simplify the site, which earlier this year came under criticism from US Democratic campaigners after Ségolène Royal claimed it had inspired the website of then presidential campaigner Barack Obama.

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Among the criticisms of the site were the background, taken from a site for free computer desktop wallpaper, and the fact that parts of it still do not work. Several commentators have pointed out that the interactive element of the old site, which allowed users to make comments, has also disappeared.

According to Royal, in an interview with L'Express, the site was conceived with her partner André Hadjez.

It has already spawned several parodies many picking up on the site's slightly cult-like feel.