Recent portraits of the four main candidates in the French presidential election (Top to Bottom) rightwing leader Nicolas Sarkozy, Socialist Segolene Royal, centrist leader Francois Bayrou and far right-wing leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
PARIS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- France's presidential candidates wound up their campaigning on Friday, without the least clue of the results of Sunday's vote.
All campaigning and media coverage have to stop at midnight Friday, allowing voters to reflect on their choice before the polls open on Sunday morning.
The opinion polls put right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal neck and neck, followed by centrist Francois Bayrou and far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen.
But as almost 40 percent of the voters are still undecided, results of Sunday's first round are all too unpredictable.
If none of the 12 candidates could get over 50 percent of the vote -- which may probably be the case, a second round will beheld on May 6 for the two leading candidates.
The presidential elections this year is seen to be one of the most tied in French history.
In 2002 elections, the nation was struck when Le Pen entered the second round together with incumbent President Jacques Chirac.
Analysts, however, believe that Le Pen would not stun the nation again this year. Bayrou is seen to stand a chance in the first round.
Sarkozy will has to face a tough situation either against Bayrou or Royal in the run-off as supporters of the two may join forces in the second round.
Former Socialist prime minister Michel Rocard has called for a coalition of Royal and Bayrou even in the first round. But his suggestion was turned down by both candidates.
This year's presidential elections in France deserves world attention as the results will have a bearing in both European Union affairs and world politics.
PARIS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)'s candidate Nicolas Sarkozy could emerge victorious in the second round of the French presidential elections by garnering 53.5 percent of the votes cast, against the socialist candidate Segolene Royal who is credited with 46.5 percent, according to a poll released by Ipsos/Dell survey Institute and published on Friday by the French weekly Le Point. Full story
PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Some 44.5 million French are expected to vote in the presidential elections to take place on April 22, compared with 41.2 million in 2002 presidential elections, local media reported on Tuesday. Full story
Print
