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Sarkozy's party suffers at polls Sarkozy's UMP suffers poll rebuke
(about 6 hours later)
President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered some serious setbacks in the second round of the French local elections. Voters in France's local elections have handed key cities to the left in a punishing blow to President Sarkozy.
Early estimates suggest the opposition socialists have gained Toulouse, Strasbourg and Caen. They also held onto the power bases of Paris and Lyon. The Socialists seized Toulouse, Caen, Strasbourg, Amiens and Reims, with nearly all results in. They also held onto the power bases of Paris and Lyon.
These polls focus on local issues like rubbish collection and parks. But in a closely-fought contest, the president's centre-right UMP retained the second city, Marseille.
But the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government. The outcome is likely to make it harder for Mr Sarkozy's government to pursue its reform programme, analysts say.
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. The poll was seen as the first ballot box test since Mr Sarkozy's election last May of his popularity, which has plummeted in recent opinion polls.
You can't change a great country like ours in a few months - tenacity is needed to reform Prime Minster Francois Fillon You can't change a great country like ours in a few months - tenacity is needed to reform Prime Minister Francois Fillon
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. The BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby 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.
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. Nationally, partial official results showed parties on the left leading slightly, with 48.7% of the overall vote to 47.6% for the centre-right, according to AP news agency.
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 our correspondent 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.
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'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. At Perigueux, in the Dordogne, Mr Sarkozy's minister for education, Xavier Darcos, lost his bid to be re-elected as mayor by just over 100 votes.
"You can't change a great country like ours in a few months," he said. "Tenacity is needed to reform." Segolene Royal called the results a "vote of hope"
Former socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said the government was heading for "divorce" with the French electorate if it refused to change its policies. On Sunday night, the president did not make an appearance - leaving his prime minister, Francois Fillon, to defend his policies in a televised declaration.
Using a footballing metaphor, he said voters had given the government "a red card". "You can't change a great country like ours in a few months," said Mr Fillon. "Tenacity is needed to reform."
Mr Sarkozy, who was elected last May, saw his approval ratings reach 67% in July last year. Segolene Royal, the Socialist presidential candidate Mr Sarkozy defeated last May, called Sunday's results "a vote of hope".
But recent opinion polls suggest only one in four French voters now approve of his policies. Former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said the government was heading for "divorce" with the French electorate if it refused to change its policies.
The first round of voting saw the socialists win key victories across the country. The elections saw Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe boost his position as a possible contender against Segolene Royal for the presidential elections in 2012.
However, analysts say the Socialists remain in some disarray, having lost three presidential elections in a row.
Voter anger
Our correspondent in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government.
The left won a tiny percentage more of the vote than the UMP
Many French voters say they are angry Mr Sarkozy has not yet fulfilled his promise to increase their spending power.
Since coming to power, he has succeeded where some of his predecessors in the Elysee Palace have failed by reducing pension benefits for some state workers.
Although unemployment has dropped to its lowest level in more than two decades, it remains high at 7.5% and analysts warn the French economy shows signs of minimal growth.
Correspondents say Mr Sarkozy's recent divorce three months into his presidency and remarriage to supermodel Carla Bruni have turned off many voters.
The 53-year-old's well-publicised holidays with the rich and famous and what some see as his extravagant style have seen him dubbed the "Bling-Bling president".
Fewer than four in 10 voters now approve of his performance. Last July his ratings stood at 67%.