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| France opts for left-right battle | France opts for left-right battle |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy will face Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France's presidential election on 6 May. | Centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy will face Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France's presidential election on 6 May. |
| With all the votes counted in Sunday's first round, Mr Sarkozy had 31%. Ms Royal, bidding to be France's first woman leader, got nearly 26%. | With all the votes counted in Sunday's first round, Mr Sarkozy had 31%. Ms Royal, bidding to be France's first woman leader, got nearly 26%. |
| Centrist Francois Bayrou had 18%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen almost 11%. | Centrist Francois Bayrou had 18%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen almost 11%. |
| Voting reached near-record levels, with turnout put at almost 85% - the highest for nearly 50 years. | |
| Disillusionment with politicians and their promises did not translate into apathy, reports the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris. | |
| 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. |
| FIRST ROUND RESULTS Nicolas Sarkozy - 31.1%Segolene Royal - 25.8%Francois Bayrou - 18.6%Jean-Marie Le Pen - 10.5% Source: French Interior Ministry at 2300 GMT Q&A: French election In pictures: France votes In depth: France decides | FIRST ROUND RESULTS Nicolas Sarkozy - 31.1%Segolene Royal - 25.8%Francois Bayrou - 18.6%Jean-Marie Le Pen - 10.5% Source: French Interior Ministry at 2300 GMT Q&A: French election In pictures: France votes In depth: France decides |
| 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, a former interior minister, promised a "rupture" with the past and real economic reform, while Ms Royal has pledged a fairer society. | Of the main candidates, Mr Sarkozy, a former interior minister, promised a "rupture" with the past and real economic reform, while Ms Royal has pledged a fairer society. |
| Both are controversial figures who have divided the French. | Both are controversial figures who have divided the French. |
| 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. | 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. |
| French voters' viewsIn pictures | French voters' viewsIn pictures |
| Ms Royal is also regarded with suspicion, seen as too authoritarian and conservative by some Socialists. | Ms Royal is also regarded with suspicion, seen as too authoritarian and conservative by some Socialists. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The debate should be a real debate of ideas," he said. | "The debate should be a real debate of ideas," he said. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Ms Royal also stressed that voters now had a clear choice on 6 May. | Ms Royal also stressed that voters now had a clear choice on 6 May. |
| She represented those who wanted to "reform France without brutalising it", she told supporters. | She represented those who wanted to "reform France without brutalising it", she told supporters. |
| "You have given me the responsibility of continuing the fight for change in order that France rises up." | "You have given me the responsibility of continuing the fight for change in order that France rises up." |
| Centre ground | Centre ground |
| 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. | 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 restarts2 May: Televised debate6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results | NEXT STAGE OF ELECTION 27 April: Campaigning restarts2 May: Televised debate6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results |
| But Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal will be bidding to win over the political centre that he energised well enough to turn the election briefly into a three-way race. | But Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal will be bidding to win over the political centre that he energised well enough to turn the election briefly into a three-way race. |
| Several million French people had opted for change, Mr Bayrou told his supporters. | Several million French people had opted for change, Mr Bayrou told his supporters. |
| "From this evening, French politics have changed and will never be as before," he said. | "From this evening, French politics have changed and will never be as before," he said. |
| Observers said it was a disappointing result for 78-year-old Mr Le Pen - whose prediction that he would win through to the second round, as he did in 2002, failed to materialise. | Observers said it was a disappointing result for 78-year-old Mr Le Pen - whose prediction that he would win through to the second round, as he did in 2002, failed to materialise. |
| The far-right leader has, however, has seen many of his ideas on patriotism and immigration filter into the mainstream campaigns. | The far-right leader has, however, has seen many of his ideas on patriotism and immigration filter into the mainstream campaigns. |
| Mr Le Pen blamed the media for his defeat and said he would announce on 1 May his position for the second round. | Mr Le Pen blamed the media for his defeat and said he would announce on 1 May his position for the second round. |
| Together Mr Bayrou and Mr Le Pen accounted for some 30% of the votes. Six other left-wing candidates won a total of about 10%, while two other conservative candidates together picked up more than 3.5% of the vote. | Together Mr Bayrou and Mr Le Pen accounted for some 30% of the votes. Six other left-wing candidates won a total of about 10%, while two other conservative candidates together picked up more than 3.5% of the vote. |