http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1950382,00.htmlClear victory for Royal in race to be president
· French socialists give firm endorsement
· Pledge to change the face of country's politics
Ségolène Royal's battle to become the first woman president of France begins in earnest today, after the Socialist party last night overwhelmingly endorsed her as their candidate in next April's election.
The "madonna of the opinion polls", whose personal battle against a domineering military colonel father and the perceived sexism of her party's old guard has fascinated France even more than her policies, secured a decisive victory after a rancorous US-style primary.
"This moment of happiness is an intense experience. You won't be disappointed," she told party members last night, as it appeared that she had taken 55-60% of the vote. She repeated her promise to "change the face of French politics", saying that she was preparing to "climb the mountain" of next spring's elections to wrestle power from the right.
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Ms Royal's victory makes her the first woman presidential candidate for a major party in France. It also cements the 53-year-old mother of four as the senior partner of France's ultimate power couple: her partner is party leader François Hollande.
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She is best known for campaigns against school bullying and child pornography, and for introducing paternity leave. Her rise has been so unexpected that a book last year profiling the 15 most likely presidential winners, she was not mentioned. Although educated at an elite graduate school where she met her partner, Francois Hollande, the Socialist party leader, she has positioned herself as an outsider who will reengage with the people and end the reign of the political elite - she sees the people as the "experts", and wants citizen juries to hold politicians to account.
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yea! wishing her good luck and hoping the women of France back and help her.