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Sarkozy's party suffers at polls Sarkozy's party suffers at polls
(about 3 hours later)
President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered a serious setback in the second round of the French local elections. President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered some serious setbacks in the second round of the French local elections.
Early estimates suggest the opposition socialists have gained Toulouse, Strasbourg and Caen. They also held onto the power bases of Paris and Lyon.Early estimates suggest the opposition socialists have gained Toulouse, Strasbourg and Caen. They also held onto the power bases of Paris and Lyon.
These polls focus on local issues like parks and nursery schools. These polls focus on local issues like rubbish collection and parks.
But the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government.But the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government.
In the first round, on 9 March, the Socialists won 47.5% of votes, ahead of the UMP on 44.4%. Mr Sarkozy's popularity has plummeted recently in opinion polls, with many French voters saying they are angry he has not yet fulfilled his election promise to increase their spending power.
Mr Sarkozy, who was elected last May, has seen his poll ratings fall, mostly over unease over his private life. You can't change a great country like ours in a few months - tenacity is needed to reform Prime Minster Francois Fillon
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. Although unemployment in the country has dropped to its lowest level in more than two decades, it remains high at 7.5% and analysts warn the economy shows signs of minimal growth.
Ratings slump Correspondents say Mr Sarkozy's 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.
The president's approval ratings reached 67% in July last year. Our correspondent in Paris says that in terms of the share of the vote, these election results do not look too bad for the government - the opposition socialists won only a very small percentage more of the vote than the UMP.
But she adds that in losing major cities, the UMP has lost some key power bases and it may be more difficult now for the French leader to push through reforms.
'Divorce' with electorate
Prime Minister Francois Fillon sought to play down the results, and warned that France had to be patient before it could reap the benefits of the president's planned programme of change.
"You can't change a great country like ours in a few months," he said. "Tenacity is needed to reform."
Former socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said the government was heading for "divorce" with the French electorate if it refused to change its policies.
Using a footballing metaphor, he said voters had given the government "a red card".
Mr Sarkozy, who was elected last May, saw his approval ratings reach 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 had prepared himself for a poor result. The first round of voting saw the socialists win key victories across the country.
"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.
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.