Segolene Royal, the former partner of French President Francois Hollande, greets supporters and media with her trademark smile.<br/> <br />But it was bitter disappointment that colored her words on Sunday after being defeated in France's parliamentary runoff by party rival Olivier Falorni.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH LEFT CANDIDATE SEGOLENE ROYAL:<br/> <br />"Tonight's result is the result of a political betrayal as the supoprt by the UMP has been associated with an unfair use of the presidential majority label, which misled several voters. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) And I remember this phrase by Victor Hugo: 'The betrayer always gets betrayed.'"<br/> <br />Falorni refused party orders to drop out of the race and cede the seat to Royal.<br/> <br />The plot thickened when Hollande's current partner and defector First Lady Valerie Trierweiler tweeted her support for Falorni.<br/> <br />Hollande's party secured a clear majority in parliament and has cemented his position ahead of euro zone debt crisis talks.<br/> <br />Royal has three children with Hollande and unsuccessfully ran for president in 2007.<br/> <br />Jessica Gray, Reuters
