PARIS, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Segolene Royal, a former presidential hopeful, appears to have finally made up her mind to stand firmly in the race for the leadership of the main opposition Socialist Party (PS), the French media reported Tuesday.

    In a move that is setting her up for a possible collision course with President Nicolas Sarkozy, Royal told a public rally held in Paris on Friday that she would be a candidate for the leadership of the PS "if militants deem it useful" during a party congress scheduled to take place in November.

    By making the announcement, the former presidential candidate, who was handily beaten by Sarkozy during the second round of the 2007 polls, appeared to be keen to position herself for a battle with Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe, according to analysts.

    In recent weeks, calls have been mounting among the party faithful to propel the socialist Paris mayor to the helm of the party, something that is not lost on either Royal or her backers.

    The mayor, who is seen as better prospect to defeat the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in four years time, is scheduled to launch a book and meet supporters this week in a bid to underline his growing influence in the party.

    "If the activists share the guidelines that we are proposing, I will assume the responsibilities that will arise from this move. It will not be understandable if I choose not to go with the militants," said the former hopeful, adding that "this is a principle of sincerity that I have always stood for."

    "If the militants to decide and consider it useful for the Socialist Party, I will accept with joy and determination to take this great mission of leading the party," Royal, president of the Poitou-Charentes, the most populated section of the capital, told over 500 activists attending "a citizen workshop."

    Over the past few weeks, the candidacy of Royal has increasingly becoming too obvious to everybody. But the question of timing has been troubling her backers, with even herself being quoted as telling reporters a few days ago that "the time to make the move was not ripe."

    Speaking in Paris recently, the former candidate, who has been the subject of vehement attacks from a section of the ruling party, told reporters: "We all know that the PS needs a better leadership."

    While the mainstream French media is predicting a clash of sorts between Royal and Bertrand Delanoe during the forthcoming party congress, the former presidential hopeful has been quick to play down such expectations, asserting that there was "no danger of confrontation or proxy wars."

    "The party militants do not want it and they will not have it. As far as I'm concerned, the debate at the November congress will be respectful," she said with confidence.

    Royal, who has never ruled out another jab at the presidential election since loosing to Sarkozy, has maintained constant criticism on the head of state and the government over the last year.

    In order to conquer the leadership of the party, "I will make a contribution in the form of a political offer to activists followed by a motion," said Royal, adding that "from next week, we are turning to the drafting of the contribution which must be filed no later than July 1."

    Having already mastered the support of 25 first secretaries of departmental federations, the former presidential hopeful has, in recent days, been making a lot of references to Francois Mitterrand, the last socialist French president.

    In a recent interview with reporters, Royal was quoted as saying that "the Socialist Party is indeed at a crossroad," apparently echoing remarks attributed to Mitterrand years ago.