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Sarkozy staves off surging National Front, France exit polls suggest France local elections: conservatives hold off National Front
(about 4 hours later)
Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP and its allies led voting in the first round of French local elections, exit polls suggest. France's centre-right UMP party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of local elections, partial results show.
They pushed the far-right National Front into second, with President Francois Hollande's ruling Socialists in third. Projections suggest that the far-right National Front - despite strong gains - came second with about 25% of the vote, behind the conservatives on 30%.
President Francois Hollande's governing Socialists came third with about 20%.
Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare.Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare.
A second round of voting will take place in a week's time. The results mean the second round on 29 March will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many constituencies.
Mr Hollande's third place in the estimated results, released after polling closed on Sunday, follow on from defeats in municipal and EU elections last year. In the past, voters for rival parties have combined in the second round to keep the far right out.
Various exit polls put the UMP and its partners in first place - ahead of Marine Le Pen's National Front (FN). The poor results for the Socialists follows on from their defeats in municipal and EU elections last year.
Some polls ahead of the vote had indicated that the far-right, anti-immigration FN could come top in the first round. Some polls ahead of the vote had indicated that Marine Le Pen's FN could come top in the first round.
Ms Le Pen had been hoping the elections would build momentum ahead of her expected bid for the presidency in 2017.
Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the news that the FN had scored less that some had predicted, saying the results showed it was not the strongest force in French politics.
However, Ms Le Pen called for Mr Valls to resign, celebrating what she said was a "massive vote" for her party, exceeding its performance in the European Parliament elections.
Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, ParisAnalysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris
It's another big vote for the French far-right, following the municipal and European elections last year. In this first round of departmental or county council elections, nationwide 24.5% of voters chose the National Front, according to one poll. It's another big vote for the French far right, following the municipal and European elections last year. In this first round of departmental or county council elections, nationwide 24.5% of voters chose the National Front, according to one poll.
It is a figure that shows yet again how Marine Le Pen's strategy of building a system of local organisation and shutting down the party's overtly racist elements is paying off.It is a figure that shows yet again how Marine Le Pen's strategy of building a system of local organisation and shutting down the party's overtly racist elements is paying off.
However, opinion polls had suggested the far-right could have done better - even emerging as the most popular party in the election.However, opinion polls had suggested the far-right could have done better - even emerging as the most popular party in the election.
That didn't happen, which has given some cheer to the mainstream opposition here, led by former President Sarkozy. That didn't happen, which has given some cheer to the mainstream opposition here, led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The results mean the second round of voting on 29 March will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many counties. Ms Le Pen had been hoping the elections would build momentum ahead of her expected bid for the presidency in 2017.
In the past, voters for rival parties have combined in the second round to keep the far-right out. Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the news that the FN had scored less that some had predicted, saying the results showed it was not the strongest force in French politics.
By late afternoon on Sunday, turnout stood at almost 43%, higher than in the last local election in 2011. However, Ms Le Pen called for Mr Valls to resign, celebrating what she said was a "massive vote" for her party, exceeding its performance in the European Parliament elections.
For the first time, voters in these elections are not choosing single candidates - but pairs of candidates - one man and one woman - in order to enforce strict gender equality in local politics.For the first time, voters in these elections are not choosing single candidates - but pairs of candidates - one man and one woman - in order to enforce strict gender equality in local politics.