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| Sarkozy faces local poll setback | Sarkozy faces local poll setback |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Votes are being cast across France in a second round of local elections, with President Sarkozy's opponents likely to benefit from his falling popularity. | |
| The Socialists and their allies are hoping to win the municipalities of Marseilles, Toulouse and Strasbourg. | The Socialists and their allies are hoping to win the municipalities of Marseilles, Toulouse and Strasbourg. |
| In the first round, on 9 March, the Socialists won 47.5% of votes, ahead of Mr Sarkozy's UMP, with 44.4%. | In the first round, on 9 March, the Socialists won 47.5% of votes, ahead of Mr Sarkozy's UMP, with 44.4%. |
| Mr Sarkozy, who was elected last May, has seen his poll ratings fall, mostly over unease over his private life. | Mr Sarkozy, who was elected last May, has seen his poll ratings fall, mostly over unease over his private life. |
| Correspondents say his recent divorce three months into his presidency and remarriage to supermodel Carla Bruni have turned off many voters - as have his well-publicised holidays with the rich and famous. | Correspondents say his recent divorce three months into his presidency and remarriage to supermodel Carla Bruni have turned off many voters - as have his well-publicised holidays with the rich and famous. |
| Ratings slump | Ratings slump |
| The president's approval ratings reached 67% in July last year. | The president's approval ratings reached 67% in July last year. |
| But recent opinion polls suggest only one in four French voters now approve of his policies. | But recent opinion polls suggest only one in four French voters now approve of his policies. |
| Mr Sarkozy is preparing himself for a poor result. | Mr Sarkozy is preparing himself for a poor result. |
| "The people will have spoken. I will naturally take into account what they expressed," he said last week in Toulon. | "The people will have spoken. I will naturally take into account what they expressed," he said last week in Toulon. |
| The first round of voting saw the Socialists win key victories across the country. | The first round of voting saw the Socialists win key victories across the country. |
| In Paris, popular Socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe beat off a challenge from centre-right candidate Francoise de Panafieu to win a second term. | In Paris, popular Socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe beat off a challenge from centre-right candidate Francoise de Panafieu to win a second term. |
| And in Lyon, Socialist Gerard Collomb also comfortably won re-election. | And in Lyon, Socialist Gerard Collomb also comfortably won re-election. |