The Socialists would have lost anyway. They were aware that all their heavyweights couldn’t be elected : too much negative bagage. So they pulled Segolene out in a last tentative to dazzle the electors and make them believe that something new and exciting could come out of the old party. As for the female electorate not being impressed, women didn’t live better lives under the governance of Mss Thatcher, Gandhi or Bhuttho. Frenchwomen know that. Not that I think much of Sarkozy, by the way.

Magali, Taipei, Taiwan

Some of you are missing the point of this election, and other elections when reformers are elected. At this point, Sarkozy is the more radical candidate, in a country like France that needs to have its economy reformed in so many ways. Royal represents a discredited status quo that even the famously protected French electorate could see needed changing. Sarkozy seems to be facing up to the problem, and it appears that the French voters rewarded him for it. As a government and history teacher, it's hard to say if this election predicts anything for the American presidential election next year. We are nearly a year from the earliest primaries and caucuses. A lot of politicking still to come here. Hopefully, the message will be that honesty pays off.

I agree with Mr. Davies from Oxford. Welcome to the internet, Lara. This is a free exchange of ideas. Don't like them ? Come up with your own and smash ours; name-calling shows your poverty of ideas.

Sam, San Diego, Calif. USA

Lara from London wrote, "I am absolutely sick and tired of reading the messages written by American citizens on UK news websites. You are entitled to your backward, right-wing, racist, xenophobic views, but we don't want to constantly subjected to them. It's not a big thing to ask other than comment on your own sites and leaves ours alone."
Matthew (London) wrote, "What a repulsive bunch of comments from US posters (what are they doing on here anyway? This is the site of a British newspaper)."
I am an American, Democratic politician who has managed campaigns for President, Governor, U. S. Senate, U. S. House and many labor unions. Robert Kennedy, Edward Kennedy, Alan Cranston, Paul Tsongas and Dick Gephardt are the five presidential candidates on whose staffs I've served. Do I fit Lara's description?
I am a long-time subscriber to The Times. I read it because I value the information and opinions of others outside my own country. That distinguishes me from Lara and Matthew.

Tom Pazzi, Washington, D. C., USA

She wasn't up to it. Gender alone neither sinks nor saves you.

Tom Pazzi, Washington, D. C., USA

Lara from London: "I am absolutely sick and tired of reading the messages written by American citizens on UK news websites. You are entitled to your backward, right-wing, racist, xenophobic views, but we don't want to constantly subjected to them. It's not a big thing to ask other than comment on your own sites and leaves ours alone."
Why? They (like all of us) get subjected to the looser, left-wing, PC, Internationalist views of the BBC (paid by all of us to boot) as well; it is perfectly fine that they reciprocate! Welcome to the Internet.

Frederick Davies, Oxford, UK

What a repulsive bunch of comments from US posters (what are they doing on here anyway? This is the site of a British newspaper). It seems Americans are still as paranoid about the Left as they ever were. It's clear that socialism cannot truly work in practice, but it's a pretty good ideal to aim for. I don't know enough about Royal to comment on her suitability, but Sarkozy has been described as France's answer to Thatcher... I can't think of anything more terrifying than that.

Matthew, London, UK

I don't think it's so much that anyone got paid off. Royal was the underdog for the Socialist nomination, so she was exciting and it was fun to talk her up. But when she got the nomination, she was the frontrunner and Sarkozy was the underdog -- remember, she was outpolling him for a long time -- so it was no longer interesting to talk about how great she was. The media just wants to keep it a horse race.

((Plus, she *is* incompetent. Vive Sarko!))

Susannah, Williamsburg,

Hilliary and Sego have much in common. Both are narcissists. Both are socialists. Both are amatuers. And neither will ever be a President. On the whole, Sego seems personally less objectionable than Hillary, but both are potential national disasters their countrymen will be wise enough to eschew.

Michael Grable, Silver Spring, USA/MD

I am absolutely sick and tired of reading the messages written by American citizens on UK news websites. You are entitled to your backward, right-wing, racist, xenophobic views, but we don't want to constantly subjected to them.

It's not a big thing to ask other than comment on your own sites and leaves ours alone.

Lara, London,

The problem with Royale was not that she was a woman, but that she was a Presidential candidate with no substance. Trying to use her femininity as a trump card merely illustrated that she had very little else to offer. I would love to see a female president of France, but one who is first and foremost a great leader with ideas, and only then a woman.

Joel, The Hague, The Netherlands

This is one more nail in the coffin of Hillary Clinton's political viability. Similar effects are likely in 2008. Whether it hits her in the primaries or, if she pulls it out, and it hits her in the general. No gender gap with Hillary Clinton.

Anil Petra, New York,

It will be good to see France fixing its problems. You can track most of its problems on the economy and jobs. I think Sarko will have his work cut out for him but I think that he will turn that country around.

Seth Mauseth, Raleigh, North Carolina, usa

Here in the south of Louisiana, of french origin, with a continuing interest of all of France, we are greatly pleased of the victory of Sarko. He represents the "right-conservative"views much similar to that of our own population. Vivre la monde francophone et vivre la mentality conservative.

larry gooch, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Mr. Christopher Lord wrote, "remember that she, unlike Sarko, is a product of the elite Ecole Nationale d'Administration, and so paradoxically is the establishment candidate in a way." Just goes to show how low the "establishment" of France has gone to come up with this doctrinaire leftist. If the socialists are able to block Sarkozy's program France will be the loser and America and the "Anglo" world will gain by comparison, if you believe in a zero sum society. If you believe that a rising tide lifts all boats the whole world will lose if France continues to sink, as a sinking France is a drag on today's world!

David S. Levine, Hobe Sound, FL, , USA

French electing change, rejecting the status quo ?!

Their choice is between necessary change with Sarkozy ... or hide in their socialistic Royal womb and continue their decline.

Stan Sims, Toronto, Canada

It sounds if the Left and Right in France are very similar to their counterparts in the States.

The Mummy-statist Left, with their over-reliance on form over substance, will continue to struggle until they actually are able to present ideas for governing which appeal to voters.

Henry Mitchell, Raleigh, USA/NC

Khaleeb, and how exactly is a security council veto an indicator of France's relevance? If Russia, China, or the US decide to do anything they wish and France does not like it, all it can do is veto until they are blue and throw hissy fits and sulk, its current relations with the US being a good example. The Security Council veto is a powerful vote in a powerless and irrelevant organization - as if it could be any other way, since it has no army and depends on "donations".
I do agree with your other points.

Paul, Philadelphia, USA

I find it strange that there are so many comments from America on a French election in a British paper. Its good to see Americans taking an interest in anything outside their country. Is it because you have finally seen through your one dimensional press ?

But I hope you guys take a similar active interest in your own elections in a couple of years time.

Abid, Milton Keynes,

The American views of France as expressed here are just amazing. The 'War on Terror' was barely mentioned during the campaign and neither was Islam. Sego did quite well in the final TV debate actually, and remember that she, unlike Sarko, is a product of the elite Ecole Nationale d'Administration, and so paradoxically is the establishment candidate in a way. Women, however, feel that she is 'not feminine', because France has the unusual combination of the highest female employment in Europe plus old-fashioned ideas from these same women that women should be interested in clothes, lipstick, babies, cooking, etc. and not in arguing with men. But Sarko's attempted revolution will be doomed from the outset because he is not a unifying character (like de Gaulle, say) but a highly divisive figure who will be opposed on every issue by the Socialists and the smaller left-wing parties. The 35-hour week looks like a good candidate for an issue on which neither side will budge an inch.

Christopher Lord, La Chapelle, France

Royal cannot win and must not win. She can only convince the world that France is ready to be divided up by other nations, should other nations decide to send in the dozen or so soldiers necessary to get the french government to surrender. The world views France as a place has seen its best days and they are in its past, a place that will knuckle under to any tinhorn dictator that makes a demand, a place that will undoubtedly need the United States to rescue it again from its next invader and a place that will continue to bite the hand that feeds it while licking the hand of the one who beats it with a stick.
Politically Royal has no gravitas, but plenty of chutzbah, this is a dangerous combination in the leader of a nation that has neutered itself internally and internationally.
I can only hope that the people of France recognize the danger that they face.

John, Frederick , Maryland / USA

As a women, I would never vote for a candidate just because of their gender or race. Anyone who would choose their president on such a basis has very little intelligence or understanding and are not deserving of a vote. Women voters should not be swayed by candidates cries of" Lets Hear It For The First Women Prez" or lets hear it for the first black Prez and so on. I hope most of us out there have more credit than that ,we vote on real issues which relate to our daily lives and also the best interests of our country and its citizens.
Maeve, Ireland

Maeve McHugh, Dublin, Ireland

I am expecting calls for a REVOTE should this Socialist Candidate Lose..Protests as we have seen in Mexico and Lenanon..and Florida 2000...threats of riots ..which are common in France shows desperation...with her changing comments and lack of details..she appears to be the Hillary (Rodham) Clinton of France! With all the silliness of Chirac...threats of riots and displays of support for China and the Taliban are proof that Socialism still is missing the point of a Failed Society which is weakening France a ONCE PROUD COUNTRY!.

Lara Barker, So. Boston, Ma

Maybe we should send over a few hundred thousand illegal immigrants to march down the streets of Paris carrying Mexican flags. That stunt last year in Los Angeles woke up the voters in the USA better than anything else could have!

Richard, Thousand Oaks, California

International capital will flee from France if a Socialist is elected president. Taxes will rise on everything and any business that can leave the country will do so as well. In the history of mankind when has Socialism ever caused a country to become an "engine of growth and prosperity"? The opposite has always resulted.

Kevin Day, San Diego, USA

I find it interesting that the press corps who were heralding her as the next incarnation of Christ switched so quickly to pecking her eyes out. Who got paid off?

tim ferrell, Surry, Maine, USA

I think the women of France are becoming very afraid of the rise of the muslims in their country. They are looking for a strong man to protect them. Yeah, I know, I'm a sexist American pig but you know I am right. Anybody see the video of the stoning of a17 year old girl in Iraq? The barbarians have invaded and France needs another Charles Martel........

Ed, Bellingham, Washington, USA

Royal and Clinton can't be compared. Royal is too old fashioned, incompetent. Clinton is not only a woman, she is a real politician who knows her topics
Being french and living in france, I agree with khaleeb on one point : to earn a good living, they are better places. It's a shame that we are rich but people are losing their buying power. And it's certainly not with Ségo and socialism that it'll change! And about international affairs, she knows nothing, she won't help us being relevant...
finally, being a woman, i indeed prefer a macho man than an incompetent prude.

louisa, Soissons, France

I expect Sarkozy will win today....and Summer is coming on so that will mean another 4000 rockets or so from Lebanon toward Israel. France's new post in the world will be to koin the war against Islam in Labanon and also throughout it's own cities....... this is what people will be expecting...otherwise, another summer of Muslim ghetto riots will become an expected annual event. The French are voting today to determine now whether or not their men still have any courge at all to rid the world of their enemies... St. Denis will will watching.

William R. Smith, Marietta, Georgia, USA

Segolene Royal has an exotic name and Hollywood looks. She is teriffic eye candy on the campaign trail with her mini-skirts and broad smile. However in debate she is a disembler, shrill and self-absorbed; coming across as highly emotional rather than rational when arguing a point. She is not the one to lead the French, a great people, at this critical time.

Tom Coffey, New York City,

The bizarre idea that the economy, which produces all the cash the state throws at the problems it causes in education and the environment, is a "male" topic explains why Sarko will prevail. It seems the average French voter enjoys a much firmer attachment to reality than the average journalist, including below-average journalists such as Matthew Campbell, who dedicated the entire article to providing his fellow travelers nonsense excuses for France's rejection of Royal's socialist policies.

I bet Johnny Halladay is loving the spectacle, and not due to any personal ire with Royal.

Robert Bennett, Lausanne, Switzerland

What a sad, sexist, biased piece of journalism.

Steve B, Biarritz, France

I agree with rob from Boston. Socialism is the real problem here. If mediocracy is the goal, then how could anything but mediocracy be the result?. Now, throw in some unrestricted immigration from middle eastern countrys who hate the west, and France will have some serious problems in the near future. Certainly more problems than any two mediocre presidential candidates could properly address properly. Wake up France!, it`s going to get worse before it gets better.. FREEDOM IS THE ONLY ANSWER

Robert, New Orleans, La

It's not a man versus woman issue, it's a question of which candidate is best-suited to repair the French economy, address unemployment, thaw Chirac's chilled relations with the US, and address the issue of increasingly discontent Muslim youth. It looks like they wisely realized Royal was not the answer.

Burton, New York City, New York

I with Rob, USA on this. Socialism is a nasty piece of work that dresses itself up as altruism and destroys civilisations. Wake up Britain and learn from France that Europe's survival means driving out the demons of the Left.

stevgillamos, Romford,

It seems like candidate public image plays a big role in this election. The problem here is that Royal's recent actions have made her look desperate. Resorting to scare-mongering about violence and exploiting her gender in the face of unfavorable opinion poll results makes her look like a wounded animal: an image that not a lot of people would willing to back in a presidential candidate.

Robert, Vancouver, Canada

I believe you've left out one point about Ms. Royale which might be effecting the conservative over 65 female demographic. She is a woman with 4 children who has never been married.

Michelle, Berlin, Germany

I don't know why people would vote for Royal - but I know why they would not. Her economic policies are illiterate, founded in a mystic belief in the power of a strong state to command the economy. Her hectoring manner has shielded her from being required to explain how this can turn France back into one of the motors of Europe. She is a bully who has accused those who doubt her of being prejudiced against women. She had few political friends and has lost many of those. She has split the Socialist Party and it is hard to see how it will recover - which may be a good thing.

David, Brussels,

Hey, what are you sayin'? Sarkozy is really dangerous ... And Royal is just fantastic. Perhaps she'll lose the game tonight, but let me tell you that the situation is going to get really worst with the small guy

zouheir, paris, france

There is a great quotation from H.L. Mencken's essay, "In Defense of Women," that is a much better explanation as to why these practical French ladies are supporting Sarky, than is the politically correct speculation contained in this article:

"A French housewife has little use for a garbage can, save as a depository for uplifting literature. She does her best with the means at her disposal, not only in war time but at all times."

Patrick, London, Angleterre

I disagree with just about everybody who posted. (1): Mecki, France is a good place to retire to or visit not a good place to earn a living, so, regardless of who wins the presidency, let's not have any talk of moving to France. (2): Tom, Obama is just the flavor of the month. He will fade because he is even more inexperienced than Hillary Clinton. (3): Ruxiang Wu, the United States is so anti-French I doubt any French domestic events will impact US politics. (4): Cyrus, while France perhaps should be irrelevant in international affairs, I think an country wielding a Security Council veto cannot be irrelevant.

Khaleeb, OKC, Oklahoma

For me, it is not a question of male versus female. I would seriously consider voting for Hillary Clinton because she is competent. Royal appears to be lacking in that department. Also, French Socialism is frightfully out of touch with the realities of today.

Anne, Geneva,

Royal is not the problem per se. The issue is socialism itself, which works in theory but not in practice.

Socialism ends up motivating the lazy to become lazier and demotivates the most productive member of society - those that fix, build, and create what society values.

Socialism is only good at equally dividing up all the poverty it creates.

Rob, Boston, USA, Massachusetts

My son who used to live in France said that if Sarkozy wins in France and Hilary wins the White House it will be time to move back to France.
Mecki, Shingle Springs, CA

Mecki , Shingle Springs, CA,

Oh, please, Ruxiang Wu. Don't even compare Hilary Clinton w/ Royal. Hilary is master of her brief, Royal just a pretty face.

Marina, Paris, France

Hillary Clinton should take notice. Appealing for votes based on your gender insults women and turns off men. Hillary doesn't have much of a record to stand on so that's she's been doing. However, she has the highest negative rating of any presidential candidate. She is trailing behind Giuliani and McCain in national polls despite an unpopular war. Obama is doing better and he's not making any cheap appeals like Hillary is.

Tom Galvin, New York, N.Y.

The crushing defeat for Ségolène Royal in France would be viewed as a bad omen for Hillary Clinton. Tonight no one would be more anxious than she to know who will be the next occupant of Elysee Palace.

Ruxiang Wu, Atlanta, Georgia

Imagine the late Charles de Gaulle of France?
Look at today France! So, the French election is showing us that the France is not relevant power any more in the international politics.

Cyrus, San Francisco, CA

Indeed, as a "formidable leader of the opposition", she can play the role of formidable housewife who will exact of her husband an exact accounting of his time at work and demand that he bring home the bacon without fail.

HILLBLOGGER3, paris, france