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| Voting brisk as the French decide | Voting brisk as the French decide |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| France is reporting record turnout as voters choose between socialist Segolene Royal and conservative Nicolas Sarkozy for their next president. | France is reporting record turnout as voters choose between socialist Segolene Royal and conservative Nicolas Sarkozy for their next president. |
| In a hotly contested poll, nearly 75% of voters had cast their ballots by late afternoon - the highest turnout at that point in more than 30 years. | |
| The two rivals are bidding to succeed Jacques Chirac after 12 years. | The two rivals are bidding to succeed Jacques Chirac after 12 years. |
| Ms Royal has suggested a Sarkozy win might spark riots. Mr Sarkozy accused her of verbal violence. | Ms Royal has suggested a Sarkozy win might spark riots. Mr Sarkozy accused her of verbal violence. |
| Polls opened at 0800 (0600 GMT) for mainland France's 43.5 million voters and are due to close at 2000 (1800 GMT). | Polls opened at 0800 (0600 GMT) for mainland France's 43.5 million voters and are due to close at 2000 (1800 GMT). |
| He [Sarkozy] has the willpower to change France Voter Anne Combemale In pictures: France votes Voters buck trends | He [Sarkozy] has the willpower to change France Voter Anne Combemale In pictures: France votes Voters buck trends |
| One million citizens living in the overseas territories or other countries cast their votes earlier. | One million citizens living in the overseas territories or other countries cast their votes earlier. |
| The first round brought 85% of the electorate out to vote, the highest turnout for 40 years. | The first round brought 85% of the electorate out to vote, the highest turnout for 40 years. |
| 'A punishment' | 'A punishment' |
| Mr Sarkozy voted in his home of Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris, accompanied by his two step-daughters - though not his wife Cecilia. | Mr Sarkozy voted in his home of Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris, accompanied by his two step-daughters - though not his wife Cecilia. |
| Sarkozy and Royal had an acrimonious exchange on Friday | Sarkozy and Royal had an acrimonious exchange on Friday |
| He was greeted by supporters who applauded him and chanted "Sarko president". | He was greeted by supporters who applauded him and chanted "Sarko president". |
| Ms Royal cast her vote in her constituency in the region she heads, Poitou-Charente, though she is expected back in Paris for a post-result speech. | Ms Royal cast her vote in her constituency in the region she heads, Poitou-Charente, though she is expected back in Paris for a post-result speech. |
| At a polling station near the Champs-Elysees in Paris, unemployed voter Anne Combemale said she had chosen Mr Sarkozy because of his market-oriented economic platform. | At a polling station near the Champs-Elysees in Paris, unemployed voter Anne Combemale said she had chosen Mr Sarkozy because of his market-oriented economic platform. |
| "He has the willpower to change France," the 43-year-old said. | "He has the willpower to change France," the 43-year-old said. |
| In Argenteuil, the town north-west of Paris where Mr Sarkozy notoriously talked of hosing out "rabble" before the 2005 urban riots, Doratine Ekoka, a 70-year-old retired computer programmer, said she trusted Ms Royal to "clean up public life". | In Argenteuil, the town north-west of Paris where Mr Sarkozy notoriously talked of hosing out "rabble" before the 2005 urban riots, Doratine Ekoka, a 70-year-old retired computer programmer, said she trusted Ms Royal to "clean up public life". |
| A Sarkozy victory, she added, "would be like a punishment from God" because of his "terrible character". | A Sarkozy victory, she added, "would be like a punishment from God" because of his "terrible character". |
| More than 3,000 police have been deployed in Paris and its multi-ethnic suburbs to prevent a repeat of the 2005 riots if, as many expect, Nicolas Sarkozy celebrates a victory on Sunday night. | More than 3,000 police have been deployed in Paris and its multi-ethnic suburbs to prevent a repeat of the 2005 riots if, as many expect, Nicolas Sarkozy celebrates a victory on Sunday night. |
| New generation | New generation |
| Whoever wins, it will mark a generational shift, with power being handed over by 74-year-old Jacques Chirac to a new president in his or her fifties, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in Paris. | Whoever wins, it will mark a generational shift, with power being handed over by 74-year-old Jacques Chirac to a new president in his or her fifties, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt, in Paris. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Many immigrants in my office are wearing Sarko badges John, France Send us your comments Royal v Sarkozy: Policies | HAVE YOUR SAY Many immigrants in my office are wearing Sarko badges John, France Send us your comments Royal v Sarkozy: Policies |
| Mr Sarkozy is a tough former interior minister who has promised reforms to put France back to work and cut down high unemployment. | Mr Sarkozy is a tough former interior minister who has promised reforms to put France back to work and cut down high unemployment. |
| Ms Royal has also pledged to create new jobs, while keeping France's cherished social model of generous welfare benefits and state aid. | Ms Royal has also pledged to create new jobs, while keeping France's cherished social model of generous welfare benefits and state aid. |
| The winner will inherit a fractured society in need of both economic reform and a new self-confidence, as France seeks to regain its former economic dominance and its global influence, our correspondent says | The winner will inherit a fractured society in need of both economic reform and a new self-confidence, as France seeks to regain its former economic dominance and its global influence, our correspondent says |