PARIS, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The French Constitutional Council Monday issued a list of the 12 presidential candidates taking part in next month's election.

    The council's President Jean-Louis Debre announced the official list of candidates, including right-wing favorite Nicolas Sarkozy, Socialist Segolene Royal and centrist Francois Bayrou.

    According to law, any French person wishing to run in the presidential election must obtain at least 500 signatures of mayors and other elected officials, in order to be officially declared a candidate.

    On the recommendation of the superior audio-visual council, candidates and their supporters must be accorded equal time by radio and television stations from the date the official presidential candidates list is published.

    An Ipsos poll released Monday showed Sarkozy with 29.5 percent, Royal with 25 percent and Bayrou with 21 percent. The margin of error was 3-4 percent.

    The poll, conducted last week, also showed far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who surprised many when he came second in the 2002 election, with 12 percent.

    The first round of the presidential election will take place on April 22. A second round of voting is set for May 6 between the two top candidates, if no one is expected to win an outright majority.

Related:

Chirac not to seek re-election

French President Jacques Chirac poses after recording a television address from the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, Sunday, March 11, 2007.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    PARIS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- French President Jacques Chirac announced in a televised address Sunday night that he would not seek a third presidential term.

    This came after long expectation by French media for Chirac to clarify whether he will be among contestants for this year's presidential elections.