France has experienced its highest voter turnout in nearly 50 years, with right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy and socialist Segolene Royal, pictured, headed for a runoff. If she wins, Royal will be France’s first woman president, but she took in fewer votes than Sarkozy.


BBC:

Centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy will face Socialist Segolene Royal in the run-off of France’s presidential election on 6 May, results indicate.

With most votes counted in Sunday’s first round, Mr Sarkozy had nearly 31%, with Ms Royal, bidding to be France’s first woman president, on 25%.

Centrist Francois Bayrou got 18%, and far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen almost 11%.

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