France's Segolene Royal may pull out of the race to lead the opposition Socialist Party, an ally hinted Monday, although she still hopes to mount a second bid for the French presidency in 2012.
  
"Segolene Royal does not want questions of leadership to hamper or delay the process of convergence" in the opposition party, Jean-Pierre Mignard, who heads Royal's support committee, told AFP.
  
He said Royal had "no conditions of any kind concerning the leadership of the party," which is in the grip of a bitter round of infighting over its choice of leader.
  
The Socialist Party, which ended its annual conference in disarray last month, convenes in November to pick a successor to the outgoing first secretary Francois Hollande, Royal's ex-partner and the father of her four children.
  
The 54-year-old, who lost to Nicolas Sarkozy in last year's presidential race, has repeatedly said she hopes to run again in 2012, and has been vying to take over the party as a springboard.
  
But recent polls show Royal slipping well behind her main rival, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe, and she also faces a stiff challenge from -- among others -- Martine Aubry, the architect of France's 35-hour work week.
  
Many in the party oppose a bid by Royal on the grounds the jobs of party secretary and presidential candidate should be kept separate.
  
Mignard suggested Royal would decide whether to stand for the post following a vote by party activists on November 6, when they will throw their weight behind the different leadership factions.