France go to the polls

Updated 13.57 Sun May 06 2007

Keywords: Nicolas Sarkozy, France, world

Voting has started in the French presidential elections in a run-off ballot that pits the right-wing son of a Hungarian immigrant against a Socialist bidding to become France's first woman president.

Former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy is favourite to win after opinion surveys conducted on the eve of polling gave him a commanding 10-point lead over Segolene Royal, a regional leader and former schools minister.

Former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy is favourite to win after opinion surveys conducted on the eve of polling gave him a commanding 10-point lead over Segolene Royal

Polling booths across mainland France opened this morning, but about 1 million citizens in France's overseas territories and French residents in America voted on Saturday in a move to encourage voter participation.

Opinion polls giving an initial indication of the result are expected to be released straight after voting ends at 8 pm (1800 GMT).

Mr Sarkozy topped the first round vote on April 22 with 31.2 per cent of the ballot against 25.9 per cent for Royal. Turnout was almost a record at 84.5 percent.

The election marks a generation shift as incumbent Jacques Chirac, 74, bows out after 12 years at the head of the euro zone's second-biggest economy.