(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many French adults would have no problem with a woman taking over as head of state after the next election, according to a poll by Ifop published in Elle. 94 per cent of respondents favour a woman becoming president.

Over the past few weeks, Socialist Party (PS) member Ségolène Royal has emerged as a possible presidential nominee. Royal's political career began during the tenure of French president François Mitterrand in 1981. Mitterrand named her environment minister in 1992. She currently heads the regional government of Poitou-Charentes.

In September, Royal said she would be capable of defeating interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) "or another person" in the next presidential election. 59 per cent of respondents say they would definitely or probably vote for Royal.

The next election is tentatively scheduled for April 2007.

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Do you favour or oppose a woman becoming president?

If Ségolène Royal became the candidate of the Socialist Party (PS) in the 2007 presidential election, would you...

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