French voters flocked to choose a new president on Sunday in an election dominated by right-wing frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Ségolène Royal, who hopes to be the first woman elected head of state.
Voter turnout was almost 74% at 15h00GMT, the Interior Ministry said, the highest rate in a first round since at least 1981 and about 15 percentage points higher than at the same time in the last presidential election in 2002.
Sarkozy, a tough-talking former interior minister, led Royal and the other 10 candidates in opinion polls throughout the long campaign. But neither was on course to obtain an absolute majority, making a run-off between them likely on May 6.
The campaign was characterised by calls for change after 12 years of conservative rule by President Jacques Chirac, which have left one of the world’s wealthiest nations divided and in need of economic reform, job creation and a dose of self belief.
”The French people know the importance of this vote, its seriousness, and I share their sentiment of living through a very important day,” Royal told reporters after casting her vote in the western Poitou-Charentes region where she is leader.
Royal (53) has pledged to re-unite the country and build a ”fairer and stronger” France where all citizens would be equal. The ruling UMP party’s Sarkozy (52) has promised a break with the past and a crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.
The brisk voting in sunny weather followed a big rise in voter registration, reflecting massive interest in an election that will usher in a new generation of politicians.
Widespread voter apathy in 2002 was partly blamed for a shock first round result that saw far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen reach the second-round run-off against Chirac.
Final opinion polls suggested a third of the 44,5-million voters were not sure of their choice at the last minute, giving hope to third-placed centrist Francois Bayrou and Le Pen, who was lying fourth in most surveys.
”I want it to be a Sarkozy- Ségolène run off,” Laurence Rouquette, a 40-year-old antiques dealer, said after voting in a wealthy Paris suburb. ”Usually I vote for the smaller candidates but this time I voted for one of the main ones.”
Sarkozy smiled as he voted with his wife Cecilia, a joint appearance that seemed intended to hit back at rivals’ insinuations that their marriage is in trouble.
”What is very important is that the French come to vote in large numbers,” he told reporters in Neuilly, a suburb of Paris.
Personalities and policies
The run-up to the election was largely calm, but two bombs exploded overnight in the Corsican port town of Bastia, injuring one passer-by. The explosions followed clashes at a separatist demonstration on the island in which five police were wounded.
The campaign has focused as much on personality as policy although the more than 8% unemployment rate and disappointing economic growth have been major issues, just two years after riots erupted in deprived housing estates.
Royal has vowed to raise the monthly minimum wage and pensions and to create 500 000 jobs for young people, but says she will not raise overall taxes. Rivals say she is incompetent.
Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, has taken a tough line on crime and is regarded as the most business-friendly candidate by financial markets. He is widely considered closer to the United States than the other candidates, but is portrayed as authoritarian by his rivals.
Bayrou (55) hopes voters disillusioned with the traditional right-left split in French politics will turn to him in the hope of securing a real break with the past.
Le Pen (78) shocked France in the last election in 2002 by eliminating the Socialist candidate in the first round, only to lose the run-off against Chirac. Chirac, now 74, is not seeking a third term.
The first opinion polls indicating a result are expected at the close of voting at 8pm local time. — Reuters