French voters go to the polls in test for Sarkozy

Paris: Voters in France went to the polls in local elections on Sunday, in what is widely seen as a litmus test for the newly-installed President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The conservative president has been weathering plummeting support, as citizens deal with a sluggish economy and wait for election promises of sweeping reforms.

France's opposition Socialists are hoping voters will punish Sarkozy by voting out the conservatives in the municipalities.

Voting is taking places across the country and turnout was at 23 percent at noon, according to officials.

Analysts say Sarkozy's dip in support is due to his flamboyant style – the way he recently wooed the international media by courting model Carla Bruni, and a recent angry outburst against a man who refused to shake his hand.