PARIS — Voters in France’s overseas territories began casting ballots for Nicolas Sarkozy or Francois Hollande on Saturday in a presidential election that could affect everything from Europe’s efforts to fight its debt crisis to how long French troops stay in Afghanistan.
The final polls show Sarkozy making up ground on his Socialist challenger before today’s election in France — but still suggest a Hollande victory. Campaigning and the release of poll data have been suspended until the results of the runoff election come in this evening.
Sarkozy predicts a “surprise,” and Hollande is urging voters to avoid complacency as the bitter campaign neared its climax, driven by fears about joblessness, immigration and France’s economic future.
Hollande spent the weekend in Tulle, the town in central France where he has his electoral base as legislator and one-time mayor. Greeting shoppers in a market, Hollande said he was “confident but not sure” when asked about his chances of becoming France’s president.
“We wait for Sunday, I speak only about Sunday. Monday is another day,” Hollande said.
Sarkozy was spending the day at home with his family in Paris.
Under a quirk of French electoral rules, balloting got under way Saturday in France’s embassies and overseas holdings, starting in tiny Saint Pierre and Miquelon — islands south of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The election’s outcome will impact Europe’s efforts to fight its debt crisis, how long French troops stay in Afghanistan and how France exercises its military and diplomatic muscle around the world.
Sarkozy, disliked by many voters for his handling of the economy, promised he could come out victorious today. Speaking on Europe-1 radio Friday, he said much will depend on whether French voters bother to cast ballots in an election that polls have always predicted Hollande would win.
Related news
Angry Greeks heading to polls • ATHENS, greece — Greeks head to the polls today in their most critical — and uncertain — election in decades, with voters set to punish the two main parties that are being held responsible for the country’s dire economic straits.
Such is the disillusionment with the socialist PASOK party and the conservative New Democracy, which have been alternating in power for the past 38 years, that neither is expected to garner enough votes to form a government. Days of wrangling over forming a coalition will likely ensue, with the prospect — alarming to Greece’s lenders and much of the country’s population — of another round of elections if they fail.
Public anger has been so high that politicians have been forced to maintain low-profile campaigns for fear of physical attacks on the streets.
The Associated Press
