BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell caught up with Ségo at a rally in Nantes last month and lobbed her a softball question, which produced this exchange:

MM: What are your presidential qualities?

SR: That's for the people to decide.

MM: But you must have... qualities?

SR: That is for you to tell people about.

Mr. Mardell comments:

Her answers to most of the reporters' questions are in a similar vein of, "That's for you to say." This is not great for a candidate whose opponents accuse her of being empty of ideas and unable to think on her feet.

Mr. Mardell goes on to attribute the use of tautology to Mlle. Royal's incessant listening -- though the latter is not always in evidence.

Perhaps. [Pause.] But all the same, it would be nice to have a straight answer.

PFFT (What is this?): Say what? 2½ | Say what? 2½ | Rayonnement français 0