Ségolène Royal (born 22 September 1953) is a French politician. She has served as a member of the National Assembly, as a government minister and is a prominent member of the French Socialist Party. She was the Socialist candidate for the 2007 French presidential election, making her the first women in France to be nominated by a major party. She gained 46% of the popular vote in the final round, losing to Nicolas Sarkozy.