France begins voting
High voter turnout as France begins voting for new president
Paris: Voting began in France's presidential election on Sunday, with right-wing front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy widely expected to face a run-off vote next month against Socialist Segolene Royal.
Voter turnout was more than 31 percent during the early hours of voting, the highest rate at this stage since 1981 and about 10 per cent higher than the last presidential election in 2002, the Interior Ministry said
Sarkozy had a narrow lead over Royal in most opinion polls before the end of campaigning but neither was on course to obtain an absolute majority, making a run-off all but certain on May 6.
Royal is hoping to become France's first woman president but trailed Sarkozy throughout the campaign.
On Saturday, voting in the first round of the election began in some of France's overseas territories.
Voters this weekend are paring down a field of 12 candidates to two favourites who they feel have the clearest vision of where the nation should - or shouldn't - be going.
The last opinion polls showed that Sarkozy and Royal are favourites. However, there is a chance of a last-minute upset, as both Francois Bayrou and far-right veteran Jean-Marie Le Pen are within just a few points of the leaders.
The successor to Jacques Chirac, who is stepping down after 12 years as president, must steer a nuclear power in an insecure world, revive a listless economy, invigorate a downbeat work force and incorporate alienated young Muslims.
