AFP Confirms Sakozy Victory
AFP is reporting a definitive win for Nicolas Sarkozy with around 53% of the vote compared to Royal's 47%. Sarkozy supporters are jubilant, but the capitol is bracing for trouble.
Wild celebrations erupted among Sarkozy supporters in Paris as soon as polls closed and projections said the 52-year-old former interior minister had around 53 percent of the vote against Royal's 47 percent.
There was a high turnout estimated at about 85 percent by polling institutes which highlighted the widespread interest in the election of a new generation of French leaders after President Jacques Chirac's 12 year rule.
Delirious members of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) burst into chants of "Nicolas - President!" and hugged each other in joy at the party's campaign headquarters.
Thousands also gathered on the historic Place de la Concorde in central Paris where Sarkozy was to give a victory speech and veteran French rocker Johnny Hallyday was to headline a special concert.
At the Socialist Party headquarters in Paris, supporters gloomily digested a third consecutive presidential defeat after 1995 and 2002.
Royal, who had hoped to become France's first woman president, told disconsolate supporters she hoped "the next president of the republic will accomplish his mandate for the service of all French people."
Thousands of police renforcements were deployed in and around the capital to head off the risk of unrest by youths from high immigrants areas, many of whom regard Sarkozy as a hate-figure since riots of 2005.
Sarkozy will need a lot of hard work to reform France. Best of luck, Mr. President.
World news | Gaius Sunday, 6 May , 2007
By Rightmom, Monday, 7 May , 2007 @ 7:35 am
He can start by pulling 1/2 the passports and sending people back to their home countries and re-applying to come back in and show their worthiness to the country. Pipe dream I know however it sounds like a good process to start.