Charles Bremner, Paris correspondent for The Times (left), explains why Lionel Jospin has pulled out of the 2007 presidential race and how this clears the way for Segolene Royal to become the Socialist Party's candidate for the top job

"It's significant but not surprising that Lionel Jospin has decided not to stand.

"It clears the way for Segolene Royal and makes it more likely that she will win the race to become the Socialist candidate for party president.

"M Jospin's problem wasn't his age - 69 - that is not a problem in France. Most French presidents, including Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac, have tried for the presidency several times and won when they were fairly old men.

"The problem for M Jospin was that his male rivals would not stand aside for him.

"His rivals feel they are better qualified than him and that this is their big chance to go for the presidency - even if they have little chance of replacing Mme Royal in the public's perception.

"It's now 85 per cent certain that she will be the Socialist party's presidential candidate.

"And if she is elected, she would not only be the first woman president, she would be the first person to come from outside the party's leadership.

"She represents change - she's a woman, she's fresh-faced and speaks a language that's more modern.

"She speaks sense in the way that Tony Blair used to do and she has expressed her admiration for Mr Blair and the way in which he modernised his party and made it electable."

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