Ségolène Royal's determined bid to represent the French left at next year's presidential election appears to be causing public and private strains after her partner and leader of the Socialist party, François Hollande, yesterday criticised her controversial stance on law and order.

Mr Hollande, himself a potential presidential candidate, told Le Journal du Dimanche he was opposed to to Ms Royal's suggestion that the military should be used to help reinsert young delinquents into society.