Conservative candidate Nicolas Sarkozy finished first in the opening round of France's presidential election today and will meet Socialist rival Ségolène Royal in a 6 May run-off, according to French television polls.
Four polling institutions showed Sarkozy leading the field with between 29 and 30 percent of the vote.
While Royal had 25-26 percent, Centrist Francois Bayrou was running third with 18-19 percent and far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen had around 11 percent.
Some 65,000 polling booths opened at 7am Irish time.
Three quarters of voters had cast their ballots by 4pm this afternoon, a significant increase in turnout compared to the 2002 vote.
Eligible citizens in overseas departments like French Guiana and Martinique cast their vote yesterday.
Unemployment, immigration and the future of France are the three issues that have dominated this campaign, but no one single candidate has emerged as a dominant figure.
Of the 12 candidates who sought to succeed Jacques Chirac, opinion polls had indicated a tight finish between the three leading contenders, Nicolas Sarkozy, the candidate for the ruling conservative party, Ségolène Royal, the socialist candidate bidding to become the first woman president, and the centrist politician, François Bayrou.
The two highest placed candidates, Sarkozy and Royal will go forward to a run-off election in two weeks time.
Jacques Chirac, 74, is to step down next month after leading the country for 12 years.
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