Segolene Royal

A poll finds that French voters like Segolene Royal, a Socialist former health and education minister, and possible first woman president.

The poll by the magazine Marianne is the first to suggest that Royal could defeat Nicholas Sarkozy, the controversial interior minister who is favored by the center right.

Royal, president of the Poitou-Charente region, is controversial herself, for a number of reasons. She and her partner have four children but have never married, and her refusal to say definitely whether she is running for president has annoyed other politicians.

But the British newspaper, The Independent, said that Royal became even more controversial on Friday when she had kind words for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and New Labor's policies. Royal reminded her fellow citizens that London won the 2012 Olympics over Paris and said that the left in France has "caricatured" Blair's pro-market policies.

"He re-invested in public services," Royal said. "In dealing with youth unemployment, he has had real success by linking greater flexibility with greater security."