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France: First Woman to Run for President

S?gol?ne Royal launched her campaign for the presidency in a bid to become France`s first female head of state. Royal received a strong mandate from the often split Socialist Party Thursday after beating Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 57, a former finance minister, and Laurent Fabius, 60, a former prime minister, winning 60% of the votes. Yet Royal`s battle for the presidency still has a long way to go as the only Socialist president in France`s history was Fran?ois Mitterrand (1981-1995). Fran?ois Hollande, the Socialist Party leader and Royal`s companion and father of their four children, remained officially neutral said the outcome is a victory not just for Royal but for the Socialist Party as a whole.

"Today I call on all French people, the men and women of our country, to unite, to mobilize, to ask yourselves what you can do for our country," Royal said "The world has changed. France has moved on, so politics must change," she added.

If Royal`s in fact wins the presidential elections, France would join small honorable club of countries in which the highest office has been held by a woman, including Britain, with Margaret Thatcher 10-year term as Prime Minister and Germany, which elected Angela Merkel, its first female chancellor. Chile elected Michele Bachelet, last year and Finnish voters renewed their confidence in President Tarja Halonen. The United States amy also join in with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as a potential candidate for the presidency in 2008.
The leftist newspaper, Lib?ration, said in its editorial: "Finally a woman in a position to win the presidency!" adding that Royal`s nomination is a "historic moment."