This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6157130.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
France's Royal promises changes | France's Royal promises changes |
(about 1 hour later) | |
French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has promised to embody change if she becomes France's first female head of state. | French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has promised to embody change if she becomes France's first female head of state. |
Ms Royal, 53, described her win over two rivals in a ballot of party members as "extraordinary", and said she wanted to write a new page in French history. | Ms Royal, 53, described her win over two rivals in a ballot of party members as "extraordinary", and said she wanted to write a new page in French history. |
She won with more than 60% of the vote, avoiding a second round. | She won with more than 60% of the vote, avoiding a second round. |
The mother-of-four is widely expected to face centre-right hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy in the April poll. | The mother-of-four is widely expected to face centre-right hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy in the April poll. |
I want to embody this change and make it credible and legitimate Segolene Royal href="/1/hi/world/europe/4625248.stm" class="">Profile: Segolene Royal Ms Royal has promoted herself as a political outsider who can shake up a system with which many French people have grown disenchanted. | |
But BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell says she has so far been decidedly light on policy detail and faces a relentless campaign against Mr Sarkozy. | But BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell says she has so far been decidedly light on policy detail and faces a relentless campaign against Mr Sarkozy. |
Speaking to reporters in Poitou-Charente, whose regional council she heads, Ms Royal expressed delight at the result. | Speaking to reporters in Poitou-Charente, whose regional council she heads, Ms Royal expressed delight at the result. |
"To be chosen in this way is something extraordinary," she said. | "To be chosen in this way is something extraordinary," she said. |
"I want to embody this change and make it credible and legitimate. | "I want to embody this change and make it credible and legitimate. |
"I think that tonight this legitimacy has been given to me and for this I want to thank party members from the bottom of my heart." | "I think that tonight this legitimacy has been given to me and for this I want to thank party members from the bottom of my heart." |
Race begins | Race begins |
Both rivals, former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, conceded saying it was important for the Socialists to forget their differences and focus on the election, which has been set for 22 April. | Both rivals, former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and ex-Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, conceded saying it was important for the Socialists to forget their differences and focus on the election, which has been set for 22 April. |
Mr Sarkozy has not officially announced that he is a candidate. | Mr Sarkozy has not officially announced that he is a candidate. |
Profiles: Socialist rivals | Profiles: Socialist rivals |
Recent polls have suggested Ms Royal would stand an even chance of beating Mr Sarkozy in the presidential poll - but her two rivals would not. | Recent polls have suggested Ms Royal would stand an even chance of beating Mr Sarkozy in the presidential poll - but her two rivals would not. |
The three contenders made bitter attacks on each other during the campaign. | The three contenders made bitter attacks on each other during the campaign. |
If no candidate had achieved an overall majority of votes, there would have been a second round next week. | If no candidate had achieved an overall majority of votes, there would have been a second round next week. |
But party officials said 60.6% of the party's 220,000 members had plumped for Ms Royal, a former environment minister. | But party officials said 60.6% of the party's 220,000 members had plumped for Ms Royal, a former environment minister. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn took 20.8% of the vote and Mr Fabius 18.5%. | Mr Strauss-Kahn took 20.8% of the vote and Mr Fabius 18.5%. |
Ms Royal's rivals tried to destabilise her campaign during the final days on the election trail. | Ms Royal's rivals tried to destabilise her campaign during the final days on the election trail. |
Teachers reacted angrily after a video appeared on the internet last week featuring a party meeting earlier this year in which she said they should work longer hours in school. | Teachers reacted angrily after a video appeared on the internet last week featuring a party meeting earlier this year in which she said they should work longer hours in school. |
Ms Royal responded by highlighting what she described as "chauvinistic comments" made by her rival candidates, something they strongly denied. | Ms Royal responded by highlighting what she described as "chauvinistic comments" made by her rival candidates, something they strongly denied. |