Segolene Royal in political comeback

PARIS, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- French Socialist Segolene Royal has re-emerged as a star of her party after losing last year's presidential election to Nicolas Sarkozy.

Royal, who had faded from the frontlines of politics, became a favorite to lead the French Left when her "motion" won the most support at a meeting of the Socialist Party Thursday night, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

A motion is a list of priorities for the Socialist party and is seen as a gauge of popularity, the Telegraph reported, noting a final vote Nov. 20 will determine who leads the Socialists as they seek to defeat Sarkozy in 2012.

Royal beat Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who was supported by Francois Hollande, the current leader of the French Socialist Party and the father of Royal's four children.

In Thursday's vote, Royal garnered 29 percent of the vote, with Delanoe receiving 25 percent in a tie for second place with Martine Aubry, the mayor of Lille.