Segolene-Headlines

She is highly intelligent, good-looking and one of the country's most popular politicians. She is possibly the left's only chance of winning the presidency and ending more than a decade of right-wing political dominance of the nation's highest office. And this week n as France's fractious Socialists make final preparations for a major conference aimed at presenting a united front n the knives are out for Segolene Royal.

However, they are not wielded by Royal's ideological opponents but by her supposed allies, the eelephants', as the all-male Socialist old guard who are also bidding to lead the left to victory are known. eSegolene has won Star Wars,' quipped one senior French journalist yesterday, referring to her dominance of the media in recent weeks. eBut now it is time for The Elephants Strike Back.'
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The problem for the left is that the Socialists need to unite around one candidate if they are to have a chance of winning the 2007 presidential election and end what will by then be 12 years of right-wing incumbency. eNothing is set in stone, but it is time to start preparing properly,' said Daniel Vaillant, a former minister and senior Socialist Party figure. But, although almost all factions of the French left will gather in Paris for the conference to start working towards the election, the rivalries between the various Socialist Party heavyweights are still very obvious.
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It is clear that her appeal extends well beyond traditional constituencies. Last week a 44-year-old male taxi driver, a practising Muslim of Moroccan origin, told The Observer he would vote for the former Minister of the Environment and of Children. eObviously I am not going to vote for the right wing after the way they talk about ethnic and religious minorities in this country, and I am not going to vote for those old Socialist elephants either,' he said. eThey are all political hooligans, cynical, ambitious opportunists. I'd vote for Royal if she was the left's candidate.'

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Though her rivals sneer at her apparent lack of a clear programme n something that will apparently change with the publication later this year of a book she has written and the creation of her own think-tank n some analysts see it as an advantage. eNot being clear about what you would do in power when so far away from an actual campaign is sound political sense,' said one senior aide. eIt allows people to think what they like about how you will help them. They can pin all their hopes on you.'

The tactics adopted by the elephants to weaken the new Socialist star politician have varied from the bluntly macho Fabius, on hearing her declaration of interest in the presidency, asked who would look after her and Hollande's children n to the more subtle. Jospin, who has repeatedly emphasised the importance of eexperience', is reported to have set up a special unit of close associates to plan his anti-Royal strategy. There is a steady stream of often anonymous negative comments in the media, or pointed public comments from loyalists of other candidates.

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No one expects the elephants to clear a way for Royal soon. eShe is advancing,' said Rozes, ebut under heavy-calibre gunfire all the time.'