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France opts for left-right battle France opts for left-right battle
(20 minutes later)
Centre-right leader Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France's presidential election on 6 May, exit polls suggest.Centre-right leader Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France's presidential election on 6 May, exit polls suggest.
Mr Sarkozy, a former interior minister, came first with 30%, ahead of Ms Royal, who is bidding to be France's first woman president, on 25.2%.Mr Sarkozy, a former interior minister, came first with 30%, ahead of Ms Royal, who is bidding to be France's first woman president, on 25.2%.
Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18.3%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen 11.5%.Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18.3%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen 11.5%.
Voting throughout the day reached record numbers, with turnout put at 84% - the highest for nearly 50 years.Voting throughout the day reached record numbers, with turnout put at 84% - the highest for nearly 50 years.
On a bright spring day, disillusionment with politicians and their promises did not translate into apathy, reports the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris.On a bright spring day, disillusionment with politicians and their promises did not translate into apathy, reports the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris.
I cannot find any candidate that truly represents my views Muriel Calvez, 19 In pictures: France votes class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6568059.stm">Europe Diary: A useful vote I cannot find any candidate that truly represents my views Muriel Calvez, 19 In pictures: France votes
Instead, young and old alike queued at the polling booths at schools and town halls, although in their choices they remained as divided as ever.Instead, young and old alike queued at the polling booths at schools and town halls, although in their choices they remained as divided as ever.
Voters turned out in such high numbers that the authorities decided to allow more time for people who were still queueing.Voters turned out in such high numbers that the authorities decided to allow more time for people who were still queueing.
Of the main candidates, Mr Sarkozy promised a "rupture" with the past and real economic reform. Of the main candidates, Mr Sarkozy promised a "rupture" with the past and real economic reform, while Ms Royal has pledged a fairer society.
French voters' viewsIn picturesFrench voters' viewsIn pictures
Ms Royal has pledged a fairer society. Both are controversial figures who have divided the French.
Of the other two main hopefuls, Mr Bayrou said he would bring together left and right in a government of national unity. Mr Sarkozy is hated by the left as a reformer who many fear would change the French way of life by making the nation work harder and longer and by cutting back on its generous welfare state.
The 78-year-old Mr Le Pen has seen many of his ideas on patriotism and immigration filter into the mainstream campaigns. Ms Royal is also regarded with suspicion, seen as too authoritarian and conservative by some Socialists.
He confidently predicted he would enter the second round run-off again, as he did in the last election in 2002 . Addressing a cheering crowd at his election headquarters, Mr Sarkozy said France had chosen to have a real debate between two different types of politics.
But the high turnout seems to have gone against him, says the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris. "The debate should be a real debate of ideas," he said.
RESULTS COUNTDOWN 1800 GMT - 22 April: Early exit polls1800 GMT - 25 April: Official results27 April: Campaigning restarts6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results He went on to appeal to all voters, saying: "I invite all French people, whatever their origin, whatever their beliefs, whatever their party to unite with me."
Since 2002, many new voters who have registered are thought to have done so to avoid a repeat of the National Front leader's success last time. There were more than one million newly registered voters, the biggest increase in 25 years. Patriotism
The centrist Francois Bayrou, who said he would bring together left and right in a government of national unity, failed to capitalise on early hopes.
NEXT STAGE OF ELECTION 27 April: Campaigning restarts6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results
The 78-year-old Mr Le Pen's confident prediction that he would win through to the second round as he did in 2002 also failed to materialise.
The far-right leader has, however, has seen many of his ideas on patriotism and immigration filter into the mainstream campaigns.
Whoever finally wins the presidency, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus, it will mark a change of political generation and perhaps a shift in French international priorities, making this election matter even to those outside France.Whoever finally wins the presidency, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus, it will mark a change of political generation and perhaps a shift in French international priorities, making this election matter even to those outside France.