Mariette Sineau, director of research at CNRS and Cevipof (Center of study of the French political life), analyzes the victory of Ségolène Royale in the socialist primary elections.

Ségolène Royal left victorious the socialist primary education. Who gained: the woman, the policy, the president of Poitou-Charentes? It is a emblematic victory of an opening of the PS at the company of the 21e century and changes desired by the opinion on the contents of the policy and the manner of making of the policy. If one must greet the victory of a woman, Ségolène Royal represents other changes as well: it is young (53 years) for the accession with the candidature - only Valery Giscard d’Estaing was younger (48 years) - in a country where one becomes President of the Republic “to wear”. And it is mother. She cumulates three features of modernity thus.

In this aspect mother and family, some perceive a traditionnalism… There is at Ségolène Royal of the elements of modernity and tradition. Even if it disavowed the catholic traditionnalism of her father, it kept of its childhood certain family values and order. From this point of view, it evokes François Mitterrand who made the synthesis between a provincial medium of right-hand side from which he resulted and a socialist ideology. It Marie also her origins, socialism and a certain political eclecticism - blairism and Scandinavian social democracy.

Can its victory modify the course of things for the women? The French spirits are walls to elect a woman with the supreme office. The blocking which remained was that of the politicians. Its victory is a demonstration which will have effects for the women: one advances thanks to models. Since 1945 and the baby-boom, the women acquired many knowledge, professional competences, of capacity to carry out face several roles and to assume them at the same time. But since they approach the places to be able, a mechanism of delegitimation is set up. However, Ségolène Royal used very well of what the sociologists call “the strategic use of the kind”. I also think that one can measure today in his success the effect of the law on the parity which contributed much to change the representations. It was seized of an audacity, classically perceived in the political community, like virile: audacity to postulate.