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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| France opts for left-right battle | France opts for left-right battle |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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 about 25%. | 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 about 25%. |
| Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen 11%. | Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen 11%. |
| Voting throughout the day reached record numbers, with turnout put at 85% - the highest for nearly 50 years. | Voting throughout the day reached record numbers, with turnout put at 85% - 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. |
| NEXT STAGE OF ELECTION 27 April: Campaigning restarts6 May: Second round poll10 May: Final official results Q&A: French election In pictures: France votes class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/2007/france_decides_2007/default.stm">In depth: France decides | |
| 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 | 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. |
| Voters flocked to the polls all day long | Voters flocked to the polls all day long |
| 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. |
| Seven million French people had opted for change, Mr Bayrou told his supporters. | Seven 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. |
| 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. | 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. |