FRANCE: Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has seized a strong lead over Socialist Segolene Royal in the first round of France's presidential election

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has seized a strong lead over Socialist Segolene Royal in the first round of France's presidential election and must now woo centrist voters if he is to win the run-off vote on May 6. French citizens turned out in force for the first round of the presidential elections on Sunday (April 22). Around 85% of the 44.5 million eligible voters exercised their right. On Monday (April 23), most of the newspapers were analysing the high turnout as a consequence of the 2002 presidential election shock, when the far-right party leader Jean-Marie Le Pen had unexpectedly gone through the first round and challenged Chirac two weeks later. On the contrary, Sunday's result was not a surprise for most French people. Conservative leader Nicolas Sarkozy will now face Socialist Segolene Royal in a run-off on May 6. "(Sandrine) I am satisfied, that is what I was expecting. (Journalist) Was it a big surprise for you ? (Sandrine) No, it wasn't," said Sandrin Lorioux, who lives in Paris. Others don't believe this choice can offer France an opening for political change. "I have the feeling it's a competition between two personalities rather than real projects that could be put forward. But we'll see, I may be wrong," said Christian Alpha, a Paris Resident. Among a wide range of citizens' political opinions, on Monday morning, there seemed to be a consensus on what has been perceived as a proof of France's revived democracy. "Look, this first round has shown that democracy is very alive in France with more than 85% of voters' turnout as you know. The result makes me think the second round will be very unbalanced but I think that all conditions are gathered for France to find back its position among great nations." Associations had also done a great field work throughout the country and especially in suburban rough areas to enhance citizens' political awareness and lead French people to vote registrations. Looking very relaxed, a smiling Sarkozy arrived at his campaign headquarters early on Monday for a special meeting which will discuss strategies on how to win the second round. Sarkozy, aiming to soften the "tough cop" image that helped him siphon votes from the far-right, struck a conciliatory tone before ecstatic party faithful soon after the polls closed. Reaching out to the same centrist voters now up for grabs, Royal sought to stoke an undercurrent of concern about Sarkozy by saying she refused "to cultivate fear" and opposed "a France dominated by the law of the strongest or most brutal." Apart from the two-horse campaign over the next two weeks between Sarkozy and Royal, who are due to hold a televised debate on May 2, all eyes will be on centrist leader Bayrou to see if he advises his voters to back either candidate. Sarkozy is expected to address a rally in the eastern city of Dijon later on Monday and Royal in Valence in southern France.

ITN Source | April 23, 2007

Tags:. .opinions. .faithful. .aiming. .shock. .exercised