Early results from the first round of France’s presidential election indicate Socialist Francois Hollande has won the most votes. Conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy came a close second. The two will now compete in a runoff vote on May 6th. This is according to partial results from an election that could alter the European political and economic landscape.
With about 80 percent of the votes counted, Hollande had a provisional score of 28 percent, against 26.9 percent for Sarkozy.
French President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at his campaign
headquarters after the first round of French presidential elections in
Paris, France, Sunday, April 22, 2012.
The two will meet in a head-to-head decider on May 6th.
Far-rightist Marine Le Pen threw the race wide open by scoring nearly 19 percent in the first round.
Supporters of Socialist candidate Francois Hollande celebrated their win in the first round.
Reacting from inside the headquarters, Socialist Party members stressed that the race for the Elysee Palace was not yet won.
Member of Socialist Party Jack Lang said, "The campaign for the second round is not only the mathematics of counting votes. What is important is the dynamics which are created. Francois Hollande is on top, the actual President is second, a couple of percentage points behind. We should not count the reserve of votes. Former French socialist President Francois Mitterrand was always saying that 2 + 2 is never 4 that can be only 3 or 5. I hope we will make 5, that we will mobilise all voters whatever their vote was in the first round."
The election is being seen as a referendum on conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy at a time when many French voters are worried about high unemployment and weak economic prospects.
As Socialist Francois Hollande heads into the presidential election runoff with Sarkozy, he has pledged to cut France’s debt and boost growth and jobs, if he wins the presidency.
French President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at his campaign headquarters
after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris, France, Sunday, April 22,
2012.
FrFrancois Hollande, Socialist Party candidate for the 2012
French presidential election, attends his campaign headquarters
after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris,
France, Sunday, April 22, 2012.
French President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at his campaign headquarters
after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris, France, Sunday, April 22,
2012.
ench President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy attends at his
campaign headquarters after the first round of French presidential
elections in Paris, France, Sunday, April 22, 2012.
French President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy attendss at his campaign headquarters
after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris, France, Sunday, April 22,
2012.
French President and UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy attends at his campaign headquarters
after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris, France, Sunday, April 22,
2012.
France's President and Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party's candidate Nicolas
Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni arrive at the polling station at Lycee Jean de la
Fontaine to cast their vote in the first round of the 2012 French presidential election in
Paris, France, April 22, 2012.
ce's President and Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party's
candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni arrive at
the polling station at Lycee Jean de la Fontaine to cast their
vote in the first round of the 2012 French presidential election
in Paris, France, April 22, 2012.
Francois Hollande, Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 French
presidential election, attends his campaign headquarters after
the first round of French presidential elections in Paris,
France, Sunday, April 22, 2012.
ois Hollande, Socialist Party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election,
speaks to media after the first round of French presidential elections in Paris, France,
Sunday, April 22, 2012.
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