Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won France's presidential election, beating his Socialist rival Ségolène Royal by a comfortable margin and extending the right's 12-year grip on power.
Mr Sarkozy pledged to reach out to all French people after his victory.
He said: To all those French who did not vote for me, I want to say that beyond political battles, beyond differences of opinion, for me there is only one France.
'I want to tell them that I will be president of all the French.'
Within minutes of polls closing, Ms Royal conceded defeat in a speech to party faithful in the heart of Paris.
She said: 'I hope that the next president of the republic fulfils his role in the service of all French people.'
Forecasts by four pollsters showed Mr Sarkozy, 52, a hardline former interior minister, won around 53% of the vote in the second-round ballot and will succeed fellow conservative Jacques Chirac, who was president for 12 years.
Turnout was predicted at about 85%.
Mr Sarkozy's face flashed up on television screens after polling stations closed, signalling his victory and setting off jubilant scenes among supporters gathered in central Paris.
Across the city at Socialist headquarters there was gloom and sorrow after the party crashed to its third consecutive presidential election defeat.
It now faces the prospect of tough internal reform to make itself more appealing to voters.
The Taoiseach has written to Mr Sarkozy offering his congratulations and said hopes they can work together 'in Europe on many issues of common interest'.
