France - It's Sarkozy /Royal to face off on May 6th

On a 74% turnout, the highest for more than 50 years Exit polls (TNS-SOFRES-UNILOG: TF1) so far confirm most expectations that Nicolas Sarkozy will be facing the glamourous leftie, Segolene Royal in the second round of voting on 6th May.

Figures being used now show Mr Sarkozy won 30%, beautiful Segolene Royal 25.2%. Rogue Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou 18.3% and the antique Jean-Marie Le Pen nationalist 11.5%.

The official results will not be available until 1800 GMT on 25th April



There are many other single issue and small party candidates who seek exposure rather than office. Useful comment here from Francophilic literate Englishman about the centrists and the rise of Francois Bayrou.



This is a slightly later exit calculation from the Ministry of the Interior that Le Monde are publishing. Buffet is the unglamorous Communist candidate whi is going round saying Sakozy is "tres dangereux".