Since
her election over
Ségolène Royal as head of the Socialist Party in 2008, Aubry has become a qualified candidate for the presidential election. The victories of her party in
regional elections in 2010 and
cantonal elections in 2011 make her the natural candidate of the party for the next presidential election. In 2010 the principal contenders,
Martine Aubry and
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, agreed between themselves the so-called "Marrakech pact" (
pacte de Marrakech) whereby each undertook eventually to give way to the candidate best placed in the opinion polls, which at that time was Strauss-Kahn. Towards the end of June 2011, the final candidate would be announced a few days prior to the nomination deadline. On 3 May 2011,
Le Nouvel Observateur reported that Aubry had told her closest supporters she would not be putting her name forward and would support Strauss-Kahn, the clear favorite in the opinions polls. Aubry denied the story, visibly upset, saying that France expected something different. Several days later, Stauss-Kahn's arrest on charges
of sexual assault and attempted rape revived interest in her candidacy. On 22 May Aubry said she would accept her responsibilities when the time came, without nevertheless putting her name forward at the same time. ==Campaign trail==