French president Sarkozy loses support to far right

French President Nicolas Sarkozy polled behind Socialist candidate François Hollande in the first round of voting in the 2012 presidential elections last Sunday, in line with opinion poll predictions.

However, the most notable feature was the big increase in the vote for the anti-immigrant Front National candidate. In 2007 Jean-Marie le Pen polled 10.4% of the vote in the first round.  This time his daughter Marine le Pen has polled 17.9%.  Nicolas Sarkozy slipped from 31.8% in 2007 to 27.2%, behind Parti Socialiste candidate Francois Hollande at 28.6%.  In 2007 their candidate Segolene Royal polled 25.9%.

The turnout was down from 84% in 2007 to 80%. 

Sarkozy could pick up support from those who voted for other candidates, but given that most of his potential support comes from those who voted for Le Pen and she has told her supporters to abstain in the second round on 6 May, Sarkozy looks to be in trouble.  france24.com video

Update 7 May

As expected Sarkozy has lost with 48% of the vote against Hollande's 52%.  Support for Hollande's Parti Socialiste, however, is much less based on the last opinion poll in March in which only 30% felt it would do better at running the country and 60% thinking it wouldn't.