French contenders set for run-off

France’s former interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy has stormed to one of the most impressive first-round victories in French presidential history.

The head of France’s ruling UMP party emerged as the most popular rightwing politician in 30 years after promising to shake France out of its decline.

Sarkozy scored 31 per cent of the vote in Sunday's vote while his main rival, Socialist Segolene Royal, took nearly 26 per cent.

Pundits say the run-off between the two on 6 May could be won by an appeal to the 18 per cent of voters who supported centrist Francois Bayrou.

The record 85 per cent turnout reflected the huge amount of interest in the race for a new generation of president.

Danish MEP Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the Party of European Socialists, described the result as a "personal victory" for Royal.

"The French have made the right choice by putting the left into the second round. Royal is the candidate for change for France and Europe and her victory is a boost for those of us who want to build a new, more social Europe," he said.

UK MEP Graham Watson, leader of parliament's Alde group, said: "This is the best result by a centre party candidate in France for 25 years.

"Although Bayrou has not made it into the second round, his positive and pro-European campaign has changed the shape of French politics."

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