French presidential election
Socialist Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy are heading for a run-off in the race for France's presidency, according to partial official results after a first round of voting.
Socialist Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy are heading for a run-off in the race for France's presidency, according to partial official results after a first round of voting.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appealed directly to far right voters with pledges to get tough on immigration and security, after the National Front's record showing in a first round election made them potential kingmakers.
Mr Sarkozy told reporters outside his campaign headquarters: " National Front voters must be respected. They voiced their view. It was a vote of suffering, a crisis vote. Why insult them?"
The first round of the French presidential election produced a clear winner. And it wasn’t the man who came first.
Uncertainty in Holland and France has rocked the DOW Jones and the FTSE
One can argue about the value of polls, but there is no doubt they give us some interesting insights into the political story of the moment