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Sarkozy wins French polls

PARIS: Right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy scored an emphatic victory in the French presidential election on Sunday, trouncing Socialist rival Segolene Royal to win a clear mandate for his tough economic and social reforms.

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.

Delirious members of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) burst into chants of “Nicolas - President”. 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.

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.”

Sarkozy will take over from Chirac on May 16.

US President George W Bush telephoned Sarkozy and to congratulate him on his victory, a White House spokesman said.

“President Bush called President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory,” said Gordon Johndroe, spokeman for the White House National Security Council. afp

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