France: Sarkozy Beaten, Holland Wins as Far Right Scores the Surprise
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was narrowly beaten into second place in presidential elections Sunday, as the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen posted the best result ever for a far-right candidate, the interior ministry announced with all the votes counted Monday.
Socialist candidate Francois Hollande came in first, beating Sarkozy by just over a percentage point. The two will face each other in a run-off on May 6 because no one got a majority in the first round.
With all votes counted on Monday, Hollande had 28.63% support, followed by Sarkozy at 27.18%. Le Pen garnered 17.9% of the vote, while Jean-Luc Melenchon on the extreme left had 11.11% and centrist Francois Bayrou had 9.13%.
"I want to thank warmly the voters who, through their votes, have placed me in this position," Hollande told supporters in Paris on Sunday night. "This is an act of trust of confidence in my (positions) that I have presented to the French people."
For his part, Sarkozy thanked citizens for voting during what he called "a time of crisis" -- saying "I know (their) worries, and I understand them."
He proposed three debates over the next two weeks, focused on the economy, social issues and foreign policy.
"The French people have the right to truth and clarity," said Sarkozy, who has been an outspoken leader on the global scene even as he has presided over a period of significant economic challenges since taking over in 2007. "Everyone will be able to make their choice with full knowledge."
The far-right Le Pen, 43, did not specifically direct her own supporters to rally behind or against anyone in the runoff, but on Sunday night, she described Sarkozy as "the outgoing president" and characterized her party as "the only opposition."
"We have never been as high as this," she said, pointing to her showing. "This is only the beginning. Let us continue to fight."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org
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