Nicolas Sarkozy to become French President

[David Cochrane]

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won the French presidential election, according to projections made from partial results.

Mr Sarkozy is estimated to have won 53% of the vote, compared to 47% for socialist Segolene Royal.

The turnout was the highest in decades at 85.5%.

Mr Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, takes over from the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac, who has been in power for 12 years.

Conceding defeat, Royal thanked 17m French people for their votes, saying she could measure their sadness and their pain.

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[Gombeen]

Good news on the turnout anyway.

[CookieMonster]

Good news for the French economy too, probably Germany's as well.

[The Earl of Desmond]

Wasn't it amazing to see the paps on their mopeds right up beside the car as he was driving to UMP HQ! No security - they could have easily shot him or had an egg or anything. He had his family in the car too. Fantastic.

It's great. Can you imagine the buzz for UMP workers tonight especially those at HQ - kind of like what it'll be like at Fine Gael HQ in a few weeks I hope - hehe

[Catalpa]

This is great news!

Royal would have just delayed urgently needed reforms and left just a bigger mess behind here.

Sarko has a tough battle ahead - but he's one tough cookie... 8)

I would imagine tackling France's huge Immigration Problem will be his most difficult and dangerous mission.

I wish him the best of luck with it anyway.

[THR]

Royal did not seem to be very disappointed when she gave the speech where she admitted defeat. Seemed rather like as if she was relieved. Certainly the more competent candidate won.

[The Earl of Desmond]

and still the patronising sexist male reporters comment on Royal's clothes! This is 2007 not 1977 - you'd think they had moved on by now. I've heard anyone discuss the cut of Sarkozy's suit or his tie.

First thing is get rid of the 35 hr week and cut red tape and make it easy to let staff go.

[Limerick Lad]

The result seems to have been a lot closer than the opinion polls predicted, Sarkozy's expected lead cut by nearly half in the couple of weeks since the last round.

[CookieMonster]

The result seems to have been a lot closer than the opinion polls predicted, Sarkozy's expected lead cut by nearly half in the couple of weeks since the last round.

Royal did make some silly mistakes which may have cost her the election. She also didn't have total support from the socialists. Despite that she fought the good fight and the results will reflect that. What is in store for her now?

[Catalpa]

Royal did not seem to be very disappointed when she gave the speech where she admitted defeat. Seemed rather like as if she was relieved. Certainly the more competent candidate won.

TBH she didn't do at all bad - indeed with a bit more experience she could have won (still glad she didn't though!).

A fairly Honourable Defeat.

She might well be the candidate next time round as she has proven she can motivate the Left to get out and vote.

To be credible next time out though she will have to moderate her views a bit and do a crash course on France's foreign affairs - while she could be forgiven for not knowing how many submarines the Navy has thiinking that the Taliban were still in power in Kabul was a real Faux pas