Paris – Setting up a contest to bring a new generation to power in France, Nicolas Sarkozy of the ruling center-right party and Socialist Segolene Royal beat 10 other presidential candidates Sunday in a first-round vote.
The May 6 runoff will pit Sarkozy, a 52-year-old former interior and economy minister, against Royal, a 53-year-old former environment minister who aspires to be France’s first female president.
The campaign promises to be tight, hinging on an emergent and volatile voting bloc that gave centrist Francois Bayrou a strong third-place finish.
With nearly all the ballots counted, Sarkozy led with 31 percent, followed by Royal with 26 percent, Bayrou at 19 percent and far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen with 11 percent. The 85 percent turnout was the highest since 1964, reflecting intense interest in a suspenseful election to replace two-term President Jacques Chirac, 74.
The election is seen as a turning point for France, the world’s sixth-largest economy and a leader in the European Union.
Although a U.S. ally, France has led opposition to the Iraq war and has promoted a strong EU to counter American influence. France also holds a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, giving it considerable diplomatic power.
The new president will have to tackle a profound malaise caused by unemployment, political disenchantment, youth riots and the difficulties of integrating a large Muslim immigrant population.
Sarkozy consistently led opinion polls, which suggested that many voters see him as the best- qualified candidate. He calls for reforming a sluggish economy by cutting taxes and labor regulations. He has a tough law-and- order image and is regarded as more pro-American than many French politicians.
Royal won an internal primary against veteran rivals, impressing party members with her charisma and a message that tempered traditional leftist dogma. She proposes sending juvenile offenders to boot camps and giving prominence to the flag and national anthem.
