French Presidential Election 22 April 2007 Thread

[Frodo]

Presidential Campaign Heats Up In France;
Poll Leader Joins Heavyweight Field In Socialist Party

By Laure Bretton
Reuters
Saturday, September 30, 2006;
Page A13

VITROLLES, France, Sept. 29 -- Segolene Royal confirmed Friday that she wants to become the Socialist candidate in the 2007 French presidential election, officially entering a race against a string of party heavyweights.

Royal, 53, heads opinion polls of voters to lead the Socialist Party into the election, but it is up to its 200,000 members to select the candidate in November, with four or five candidates likely to compete for the nomination.

"Yes, I agree to take on this mission of conquest for France and the challenges coming with it," Royal said in a campaign speech in the southern town of Vitrolles, getting loud applause.

Her comments came shortly after former finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn said he would run. Ex-prime minister Laurent Fabius and former culture minister Jack Lang are to announce their candidacies before an Oct. 3 deadline.

Party leader Francois Hollande, who lives with Royal, has not ruled out running.