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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| France opts for left-right battle | France opts for left-right battle |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Centre-right Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France's presidential election on 6 May, according to initial results. | |
| 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 24%. | |
| Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18.2%, 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 | 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, while Ms Royal has pledged a fairer society. | Of the main candidates, Mr Sarkozy 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 | |
| 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." |
| The results were a victory for the Socialist Party and also a personal victory for Segolene Royal, one of her advisers, Jack Lang, said. | |
| "The French people have discovered a cool-headed and serene personality who tomorrow can be a president who will hold the reins of the state. I am calling for a broad coalition against the representative of the outgoing government, " he said. | |
| 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. |
| But Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal will be bidding to win over for the political centre that he energised well enough to turn the election briefly into a three-way race. | |
| NEXT STAGE OF ELECTION 27 April: Campaigning restarts6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results | NEXT STAGE OF ELECTION 27 April: Campaigning restarts6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results |
| It was a disappointing result for 78-year-old Mr Le Pen, who had confidently predicted 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. | 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. |