Martine Aubry, the general secretary of French Socialist Party (PS) announced Tuesday her candidacy for France's presidential election scheduled in 2012.

"I decided to present my candidacy for the presidential election," Aubry said in front of socialists in her native town of Lille, north France.

"I want to give back to France its strength, serenity (and) unity. I want to give everyone a taste of the future and the desire for a common fate," she added.

The 60-year-old candidate denounced "an unfair policy conducted exclusively for the benefit of the privileged," referring to incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy's way of governing.

"It is time for a real change. Everything can not, of course, be possible immediately. But we will take together the way of progress," Aubry said.

Aubry has to win the primary election within the Socialist Party due in October, which will pick out a candidate representing the biggest opposition party and able to secure the socialists a place at the Elysee Palace.

Many key faces of the PS have already declared their candidacies, such as Francois Hollande, the favorite of recent polls, and Segolene Royal, who challenged Sarkozy during the previous presidential polls.