Segolene Royal news stories on Newser

Former PM: DSK 'Mentally Ill'

Rob Quinn — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:59:00 CDT

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been handed back his passport , bid farewell to the IMF , and, according to Socialist Party leader Martine Aubrey, will soon be returning to France—where controversy awaits. Michel Rocard, France's prime minister from 1988 to 1991, has told a French TV station that DSK's repeated sex scandals...

'French Eminem' Ignites Censorship Fight

Matt Cantor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:25:21 CDT

A rapper slammed for backing violence against women has sparked a censorship debate that’s reached the upper levels of France’s government, the BBC reports. OrelSan, the “French Eminem,” was dropped from a music festival after former presidential candidate Segolene Royal warned she might pull public funding. The governing party called...

British Execs Released After Latest French 'Bossnapping'

Harry Kimball — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:42:41 CDT

In the latest demonstration of French employees refusing to take job losses sitting down, workers at a glue factory took 3 British execs and their French manager hostage last night, and released them today, the BBC reports. The “bossnappers” demanded a renegotiation of their severance package from Scapa, which plans...

Aubry Will Lead French Socialist Party After Vote

Harry Kimball — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:54:01 CST

Martine Aubry has edged out rival Ségolène Royal to become the leader of France’s Socialist Party, the BBC reports. A recount of last week’s vote, requested by Royal, actually widened Aubry’s winning margin. Royal, the party’s presidential candidate last year, said she would not accept confirmation of the vote by...

Royal Ahead as French Left Picks Leader

Jason Farago — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:07:10 CST

Ségolène Royal has emerged as the strongest candidate to take over France's Socialist Party as a bitter leadership contest goes to a runoff today, Reuters reports. Royal, defeated by Nicolas Sarkozy in last year's presidential race, will face Martine Aubry, the mayor of Lille who as a minister introduced the...

Sarko Loses Bid to Block Voodoo Doll

Rob Quinn — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:35:10 CDT

A French judge apparently finds Nicolas Sarkozy voodoo dolls funnier than the president does. The court threw out Sarkozy's Iawsuit against the maker of the dolls, the BBC reports, deciding it hadn't breached limits of "free expression and the right to humor." Sales of the presidential pincushion, which comes emblazoned...

Sarkozy Battles Voodoo Curse

Rob Quinn — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:13:38 CDT

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is demanding that a voodoo doll in his image be withdrawn from bookstores, the Daily Telegraph reports. The fuming Sarko has threatened a lawsuit if the French distributor does not comply. Some 20,000 of the dolls, which comes with pins and a voodoo guide, have...

Gay Paris Mayor Sets Sights on Presidency

Jason Farago — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:44:00 CDT

The battle is on for the leadership of France's opposition Socialist Party, and a man who says the nation is ready for a gay president is the surprise leader, the Telegraph reports. Bertrand Delanoë, the popular mayor of Paris, is the early favorite, outpolling Ségolène Royal, who lost last year's...

Ségolène Royal Blasts Ex-Lover in New Book

Jason Farago — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:43:18 CST

A new book by Ségolène Royal hits stores in France today, writes the Times of London, and the unsuccessful presidential candidate apologizes for nothing in a fierce, at times vengeful 330 pages. Royal directs much of the blame for her defeat at her own Socialist party and particularly François Hollande,...