Ségolène has been around for a long time. She was a Minister in François Mitterand's Socialist government. One of her main rivals is her "companion" Socialist Party President François Hollande. They both come from wealthy, prominent Protestant families and have great ambitions.
A fine example of family values!
...from Wikipedia....On April 7, 2006, Mme Royal launced an internet-led electoral campaign at [3], publishing the first of ten chapters of her political manifesto. Though not yet a Presidential candidate, the campaign - which allows contributions by visitors in order to help "complete" the book - is designed to help Mme Royal produce a text which will be published in September 2006, two months before the Socialist Party elects its Presidential candidate. The real choice will be in September 2006, when the Socialist Party and most of all Lionel Jospin will finally announce whether he is a candidate for the presidency. Some experts in French politics think that a Jospin/Royal ticket is secretly being prepared[citation needed]. Royal could thus be the second female Prime Minister of the French republic (the first woman to hold this office was Édith Cresson, appointed by François Mitterrand during the eighties).