PARIS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Union for a popular Movement (UMP) party's candidate Nicolas Sarkozy will win the presidential elections with 52 percent of votes, against the Socialist party's candidate Segolene Royal who is credited with 48percent of votes in the second round of the elections, according to a poll done by the French Institute of Market Studies and Opinions (BVA) and published by the French press on Wednesday.

    According to the survey, approximately 49 percent of voters who voted for Francois Bayrou in the first round will choose the socialist candidate, compared with 35 percent who will vote for the UMP candidate.

    The others will vote blank or abstain altogether.

    The centrist candidate Bayrou obtained 18.6 percent of votes during the first round of the presidential elections held on April22.

    Meanwhile, 59 percent of voters surveyed believe Nicolas Sarkozy has a more presidential stature, whereas Royal is described as more likeable by 62 percent of voters.

    According to the survey, Sarkozy will obtain 54 percent of votes from men and 50 percent from women, while 61 percent of retirees will also vote for him.

    Royal is preferred by 53 percent of salaried employees, especially laborers, and 65 percent of senior management employees, as well as members of liberal professions.

    The survey was carried by telephone on Monday from a sample of 805 people representing the French population aged 18 years and above.

    Since the first round held on April 22, about twenty opinion polls published have shown Sarkozy will emerge victorious in the second round, with 2 to 8 points ahead of his socialist adversary. Observers believe the televised debate to take place on Wednesday night will be the last chance for Royal to make up for the lost ground.

    The second round of the French presidential elections will beheld on May 6 when the French people will elect their new president for a period of five years.