Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource." 
Email: Password:

  Royal, Ségolène
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationSocialist  
<-  2014-01-01  
 
NameSégolène Royal
Address
, Poitou-Charentes , France
EmailNone
Website [Link]
Born September 22, 1953 (70 years)
ContributorPatrick
Last ModifedIndyGeorgia
Sep 22, 2018 05:50pm
Tags French - Straight -
InfoMarie-Ségolène Royal is a French politician. She is the President of the Poitou-Charentes region, a member of the National Assembly, and a prominent member of the Socialist Party. On 16 November 2006, Socialist Party members elected her as their candidate for the 2007 French presidential election.

She is known for her admiration for some of Tony Blair's "Third Way" politics, for her controversial insistence on "law and order" issues and for her support of devolution and participatory democracy.

Royal was born in Ouakam, Dakar, Senegal on 22 September 1953, the daughter of Jacques Royal, a former artillery officer and aide to the mayor of Chamagne (Vosges), and of Hélène Dehaye. Royal's childhood played a role in shaping her values and resilience. Her parents had eight children in nine years. Her father was fond of saying "I have five children and three girls". A staunch Roman Catholic and military man, he could be considered abusive by most modern standards. Being female, the young Marie-Ségolène had to struggle with her father to continue her studies through high school, though she ultimately prevailed. Much to his surprise, she was admitted to Sciences Po. In 1972, at the age of 19, Ségolène sued her father because he refused to divorce her mother and pay alimony and child support to finance the children's education. She won the case shortly before Jacques Royal died of lung cancer in 1981.

Ségolène Royal is a graduate of the elite École nationale d'administration (ENA) along with much of France's political elite, and was in the same class as Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. Since the late 1970s, Ségolène Royal has been the private-life partner of François Hollande, currently first secretary of the French Socialist Party, whom she met at ENA. The couple has four children. While not married, they are bound by the PACS (pacte civil de solidarité), which provides for a civil union between two adults.

She served as a judge (conseiller) of an administrative court, an assignment for low-ranking graduates, before she was noticed by President François Mitterrand's special adviser Jacques Attali and recruited in his staff in 1982. She held the junior rank of chargée de mission from 1982 to 1988.

She is a deputy in the National Assembly for the Deux-Sèvres département (1988-1992, 1993-1997, 2002-). Her candidacy was an example of the French political tradition of parachutage (parachuting), appointing promising Parisian political staffers as candidates in rural districts. However, hers was second rate: she was up against an entrenched UDF incumbent, and François Mitterrand is said to have told her: "You will not win, but you will next time." She did win against the odds, and remarked: "Pour un parachutage, l'atterrissage est réussi." ("As far as parachuting goes, the landing was a success").

Minister of Environment under Pierre Bérégovoy from 1992 to 1993, she failed to be elected mayor of Niort against the incumbent Socialist who ran as an Independent when she received the nomination. She first considered a run for President during the Socialist Party's primaries for the 1995 elections but decided against it because only heavyweights were running. When the Left won the 1997 legislative election, she stood for the presidency of the National Assembly; however, the party instead elected Laurent Fabius. In compensation, she was appointed to Lionel Jospin's government as Vice-Minister of Education, then as Vice-Minister of Family and Childhood from 2000 to 2002.

On 28 March 2004, she was elected president of the region Poitou-Charentes, notably defeating Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's protégée, Elizabeth Morin, in his home region. (She retains her National Assembly seat simultaneously.)

On 22 September 2005 Paris Match published an interview in which she declared that she was considering running for the presidency in 2007.

On 7 April 2006, Royal launched an Internet-led electoral campaign at Désirs d'avenir ("Desires of a future"), publishing the first of ten chapters of her political manifesto. The campaign — which allowed contributions by visitors in order to help "complete" the book — was designed to help Royal produce a document which was to be published in September 2006, two months before the Socialist Party elected her its presidential candidate.

By the beginning of September, her intentions had become quite clear. She has said that if she were a man the Socialist Party would already have rallied around her candidacy. Only widespread sexism in the party has prevented this, according to her statements in an interview published September 1. She announced an official team to promote her campaign on 30 August. A poll taken on August 29 and 30 showed that 47% of respondents preferred her as the Socialist Party candidate. Although this marked a slight decline from polls a week earlier she maintained a strong lead over all other candidates.

On 16 November 2006, Royal defeated Laurent Fabius and Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the French Socialist Party primary, becoming the party's candidate for the 2007 presidential election. She won in 101 of 104 of the Socialist Party's fédérations, losing only Haute-Corse, Mayotte and Seine-Maritime (the latter being the home region of Laurent Fabius).

Royal has been widely criticised for being stronger on rhetorics than policies, and being part of a trend in French politics to focus on the personality and lifestyles of politicians rather than their ideas. When in August 2006, a paparazzo took a photo of her wearing a bikini, she refrained from suing as was her right under French privacy laws. For the recent campaign for the Presidential nomination she changed from wearing dull clothing to stylish suits and reportedly had work done on her teeth.

She has also tended to campaign on family and other socially-oriented issues, rather than on economic or foreign policy issues. For instance, she has mounted campaigns against the exposure of children to violent television shows, including cartoons , and more generally has taken a stand on several issues regarding family values and the protection of children.


JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
01/27/2012-02/01/2012 OpinionWay 32.00% ( 0.0) 59.00% ( 0.0) 9.00% ( 0.0)
FAVORABILITY POLLS
DateFirmFavorableUnfavorableDon't Know
03/09/2012-03/10/2012 Ipsos 35.00% ( 0.0) 58.00% ( 0.0) 7.00% ( 0.0)
02/28/2012-02/29/2012 CSA 33.00% ( 0.0) 66.00% ( 0.0) 1.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Jan 18, 2006 12:40am Profile Profile: Segolene Royal  Article Patrick 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 7.66670 Average

FAMILY

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  04/02/2014 FRA Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Growth & Energy Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  06/17/2012 French National Assembly - Charente-Maritime - 1st Circonscription Lost 37.03% (-25.93%)
  06/10/2012 French National Assembly - Charente-Maritime - 1st Circonscription Won 32.03% (+3.12%)
  10/09/2011 French President - PS Primary Lost 6.92% (-32.09%)
  03/21/2010 Poitou-Charentes Regional President - Run-Off Won 60.61% (+21.22%)
  03/14/2010 Poitou-Charentes Regional President - First Round Won 38.98% (+9.53%)
  11/22/2008 French Socialist Party - First Secretary - Runoff Lost 49.96% (-0.08%)
  11/20/2008 French Socialist Party - First Secretary - Initial Runoff Won 42.47% (+7.73%)
  11/06/2008 French Socialist Party - First Secretary - Initial Election Won 29.08% (+3.83%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Saône et Loire Run-Off Lost 47.01% (-5.99%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Indre Run-Off Won 50.17% (+0.35%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Indre-et-Loire Run-Off Lost 47.30% (-5.39%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute-Marne Run-Off Lost 40.86% (-18.29%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Côte d'Armor Run-Off Won 55.53% (+11.06%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Run-Off Lost 48.80% (-2.40%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Lot Run-Off Won 56.43% (+12.86%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Ariège Run-Off Won 59.56% (+19.12%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Saint Pierre-et-Miquelon Won 60.86% (+21.73%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Hautes Alpes Run-Off Lost 46.33% (-7.34%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Lot-et-Garonne Run-Off Lost 46.04% (-7.92%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Drôme Run-Off Lost 45.12% (-9.75%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Isère Run-Off Lost 47.88% (-4.23%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Bouches du Rhône Run-Off Lost 41.97% (-16.06%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Tarn-et-Garonne Run-Off Lost 47.00% (-6.01%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Meuse Run-Off Lost 43.07% (-13.86%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Vendée Run-Off Lost 42.94% (-14.12%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Oise Run-Off Lost 41.72% (-16.57%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Landes Run-Off Won 52.82% (+5.65%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Ardèche Run-Off Lost 48.38% (-3.23%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute Corse Run-Off Lost 41.18% (-17.63%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Meurthe et Moselle Run-Off Lost 48.88% (-2.23%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Hérault Run-Off Lost 45.98% (-8.05%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Vaucluse Run-Off Lost 39.28% (-21.43%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Aisne Run-Off Lost 46.64% (-6.71%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haut-Rhin Run-Off Lost 34.61% (-30.78%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Ain Run-Off Lost 39.46% (-21.09%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Alpes Maritimes Run-Off Lost 31.92% (-36.15%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Eure Run-Off Lost 42.63% (-14.75%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Creuse Run-Off Won 53.26% (+6.52%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Yvelines Run-Off Lost 41.29% (-17.42%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Pyrénées Orientales Run-Off Lost 44.30% (-11.39%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Nord Run-Off Lost 48.25% (-3.50%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Vienne Run-Off Won 51.41% (+2.81%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Bas-Rhin Run-Off Lost 34.42% (-31.16%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Puy-de-Dôme Run-Off Won 53.96% (+7.92%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Territoire de Belfort Run-Off Lost 45.16% (-9.68%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Val d'Oise Run-Off Lost 47.70% (-4.61%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Lozère Run-Off Lost 44.25% (-11.49%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Charente-Maritime Run-Off Lost 48.07% (-3.85%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Deux-Sèvres Run-Off Won 54.79% (+9.59%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Savoie Run-Off Lost 42.68% (-14.65%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute-Loire Run-Off Lost 45.78% (-8.44%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute Saône Run-Off Lost 44.20% (-11.59%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Jura Run-Off Lost 44.98% (-10.03%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Seine-Saint-Denis Run-Off Won 56.54% (+13.08%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Seine et Marne Run-Off Lost 43.75% (-12.50%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Gard Run-Off Lost 43.88% (-12.24%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Charente Run-Off Won 52.88% (+5.76%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Pas-de-Calais Run-Off Won 52.04% (+4.08%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Gers Run-Off Won 52.51% (+5.02%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Gironde Run-Off Won 51.72% (+3.43%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Cantal Run-Off Lost 44.24% (-11.52%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Alpes de Haute Provence Run-Off Lost 46.81% (-6.39%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Vosges Run-Off Lost 45.28% (-9.45%)
  05/06/2007 French President - French Polynesia Lost 48.10% (-3.79%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Hauts-de-Seine Run-Off Lost 44.35% (-11.29%)
  05/06/2007 French President - New Caledonia Lost 37.02% (-25.95%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Loire-Atlantique Run-Off Won 52.85% (+5.71%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Maine et Loire Run-Off Lost 45.85% (-8.29%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Allier Run-Off Won 51.20% (+2.39%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Hautes Pyrénées Run-Off Won 57.37% (+14.73%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Dordogne Run-Off Won 53.38% (+6.75%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Rhône Run-Off Lost 42.91% (-14.18%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Seine Maritime Run-Off Lost 49.80% (-0.40%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Tarn Run-Off Won 50.71% (+1.43%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Val de Marne Run-Off Won 50.20% (+0.41%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Somme Run-Off Lost 49.54% (-0.91%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Var Run-Off Lost 34.46% (-31.07%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Pyrénées Atlantiques Run-Off Won 52.49% (+4.98%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute-Garonne Run-Off Won 54.47% (+8.95%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Haute Savoie Run-Off Lost 36.96% (-26.08%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Loire Run-Off Lost 45.55% (-8.90%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Doubs Run-Off Lost 44.20% (-11.59%)
  05/06/2007 French President - Paris Run-Off Lost 49.81% (-0.38%)
  05/06/2007 French President Lost 46.94% (-6.13%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Calvados First Round Lost 25.18% (-4.07%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Indre-et-Loire First Round Lost 24.87% (-5.83%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Haute Marne First Round Lost 20.47% (-11.24%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Corse du Sud First Round Lost 19.64% (-17.90%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Vienne First Round Won 29.16% (+1.30%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Bouches-du-Rhône First Round Lost 23.78% (-10.47%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Lot First Round Won 31.98% (+7.76%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Saône-et-Loire First Round Lost 25.80% (-4.08%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Aisne First Round Lost 23.42% (-5.88%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Creuse First Round Won 29.02% (+1.61%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Aude First Round Won 30.70% (+4.41%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Loir et Cher First Round Lost 21.93% (-7.91%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Seine Maritime First Round Lost 25.91% (-2.51%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Ardèche First Round Lost 25.14% (-2.50%)
  04/22/2007 French President - Doubs First Round Lost 24.87% (-7.51%)
SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN
  04/10/2022 French President Lost 0.00% (-27.85%)
  01/22/2017 French President - PS Primary Lost 0.00% (-36.03%)
ENDORSEMENTS
French President - Apr 10, 2022 LFI Jean-Luc Mélenchon
French President - Runoff - May 07, 2017 LREM Emmanuel Macron
French President - Apr 23, 2017 LREM Emmanuel Macron
French Socialist Party - First Secretary - May 21, 2015 PS Jean-Christophe Cambadélis
French Socialist Party - First Secretary - Oct 11, 2012 PS Harlem Désir
French President - PS Primary Runoff - Oct 16, 2011 PS François Hollande
US President - D Primaries - Jun 03, 2008 D Barack Obama