ADIEU, MONSIEUR!

The first round of the French presidential election is the prelude to a severe drabbing of incumbent Sarkozy. Exit polls indicate that he trails by 4% to Socialist candidate Hollande. More importantly, a poll conducted today shows that Sarkozy is up to 12% behind Hollande in the direct run-off vote on May 6th.

UPDATE
EXIT POLL from 16:45 shows the margin between Hollande and Sarkozy

narrowing (29.5 : 27.0 per cent);
A late surge of voters results in decent voter participation: 3 hours before the last polling stations close, more than 72% have already cast their vote, much more than expected.

In yet another blow for Sarkozy's re-election bid,  the leader of the National Front, Marine Le Pen, is quoted as saying minutes ago that "Voters have clearly shown today that Sarkozy is not the right man in the Elysée Palace, and I will not endorse him in the

[THIS SITE DEFIES THE BAN ON PUBLISHING POLLS AND RESULTS BEFORE 8PM]