Royal advantage

In late August, Lionel Jospin made a dramatic return to the French political scene, four years after he was knocked out in the first round of presidential voting. In an emotional speech, Jospin presented himself as the elder statesman of France, the true Socialist. Or, to put it more bluntly: the stop-Ségolène-Royal candidate. Today, he pulled out of the race.

Jospin’s candidacy had failed to catch on with Socialist voters,

among whom he trailed Royal 54 to 21 percent. Jospin had also failed to persuade the other male candidates, who have even lower ratings, to withdraw in his favor.

If this isn’t enough to put a spring in Ségolène’s step, there’s also a new TV show in France featuring a charismatic female president. Now for all to be well in the Royal household, she just needs to persuade her common-law husband to confirm that he’s standing aside for her.