FRANCE: Back to the sources for socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal as she visits her childhood village

Record ID: 247482

  • Title: FRANCE: Back to the sources for socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal as she visits her childhood village
  • Date: 13th April 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) BROTHER OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEGOLENE ROYAL, ANTOINE ROYAL, SAYING: "I knew that one day or another she'd go for the presidency, because it wasn't someone who who would only be satisfied by the ideas of a party. She had her own ideas and her own convictions. If she wanted them applied, she would do it herself."
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1VBUWWDJB13Q7VWWQAZDOCQ2O
  • Story Text: Segolene Royal visits her hometown of Chamagne and meets the people she grew up with. With only ten days to go, the race to the presidential Palace accelerates.
    Only a week away from the end of her presidential marathon, Segolene Royal paid a visit to her hometown of Chamagne. Welcomed by proud residents of this small village in the east of France, she met the people she grew up and went to school with.
    Mrs Gass, who always lived there remembers the then little girl: "Yes, and then polite. I think it was the father's education that did that. I say that if they didn't have their father, perhaps they wouldn't have got to where are now."
    Regine Jacob is a childhood friend of hers : "She was simple because her family was a simple one. They had the value of work, respect for the family, well her father was in the army and it must be said that it was that. Then from a religious point of view, Mass every Sunday." she said. Apart from a quick visit last year, she hadn't been back to Chamagne since the end of her studies. The contender for the presidency was accompanied by her son Thomas and brother Antoine.
    Segolene Royal was one of eight children and her father was in the military. Royal's brother, Antoine was certain his sister was promised to a bright future:
    "I think that, because her catholic upbringing, she had strong needs to help the weak. And I think that's how she got into politics."
    "I knew that one day or another she'd go for the presidency, because it wasn't someone who who would only be satisfied by the ideas of a party. She had her own ideas and her own convictions. If she wanted them applied, she would do it herself." Antoine Royal said.
    The whole visit lasted only one hour but Royal appreciated it: "Listen, it was a very moving and touching visit which reinforces my profound links with this territory and this village where I spent all of my childhood and my adolescence, where I understood lots of things."
    Almost a week away from the first round of voting, the candidates are in the most intense part of their campaign.
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