Royal to run in Socialist election

SEGOLENE Royal will run as a candidate in the Socialist Party's primary elections.

Royal, who lost against Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, said that she had reflected and consulted on the idea for a long time before making the decision to stand.

Her announcement came just days after reports of a pact between the Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the IMF, and Royal herself, to not stand against each other.

Royal said: "Listen to the French. They have not been heard of late, despite the fact they have a lot to say."

A poll by Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche put Royal (10 per cent) behind both Aubry (11 per cent) and Strauss-Khan (32 per cent) in terms of public's favourite candidate to lead the party.

Photo: Royal at the Fête de la Fraternité à Arcueil. Credit: TheStreamer