Ségolène Royal, a former French minister and ambassador to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, has launched her candidacy in the Socialist Party’s primary elections, aiming to make an unexpected impact in the upcoming presidential race. This marks her return to the political arena nearly two decades after her unsuccessful bid in the 2007 presidential election. Royal, 72, is running as an independent within the socialist primary, which will take place on Fridays and Saturdays, October 9-10 and 16-17. She has described her campaign as one of humility, free from ego or a sense of superiority, and has introduced "the quiet France" and "the just order" as central themes. Her campaign is being managed by a small, efficient team described as an "agile start-up," in contrast to the larger, more traditional teams of other candidates such as Raphaël Glucksmann and Olivier Faure. Royal has secured endorsements from ten parliamentarians, 50 local officials, and 15 members of the national council. She has criticized the media for not recognizing her current stance and has requested coverage on major TV programs like "20 Heures" on TF1 and France 2, which she claims no longer know her. Royal’s campaign strategy focuses on frequent media appearances to defend her positions. She has proposed measures such as installing cameras in schools to combat violence against children, reinstating the wealth solidarity tax (ISF), and lowering fuel taxes to curb rising pump prices. She has also criticized Glucksmann for attending a meeting with former President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, arguing that he must explain his past actions during the debates. Royal has faced criticism for past statements, including her support for using chloroquine in treating Covid-19 and initial doubts about war crimes in Ukraine. She has since apologized for the latter and clarified that she never intended to deny the crimes committed in Ukraine. Despite these controversies, Royal’s campaign emphasizes her political experience and her ability to defy expectations about the upcoming vote. However, analysts suggest she may struggle to qualify for the second round of the primary, with Glucksmann and Faure seen as stronger contenders. Some question whether her ability to attract crowds will translate into actual votes. Nonetheless, Royal remains determined to disrupt the anticipated head-to-head between the main candidates and leave a lasting impression on the election.