The D-day for French voters has arrived as they queue in today to cast their vote in one of the most unpredictable French presidential elections of the recent times. As many as 12 candidates are vying for the prestigious post.
The leading candidates in the frame are: Nicolas Sarkozy from centre-right party, Segolene Royal from the socialist, Francois Bayrou from the centrist and Jean-Marie Le Pen, Who is the far-right leader.
In the run up to the polls no candidate has left any stone unturned and they also roped in various personalities from the varied fields to lure the voters. However, the surveys have shown that more than one-third of voters is still undecided about their preference for the president. Nearly 1.5 million voters are expected to use electronic voting machines for the first time in the history of French election. Though these machines have been heavily criticised by the socialists and some other opposition parties. In this election there are more than one million newly registered voters, which is the biggest increase in last 25 years.
All candidates have different agenda for their campaign. One of the potential candidates, from the right-wing, Nicolas Sarkozy has promised slew of economic reforms, if she wins. While socialist Segolene Royal has pledged for a fairer society. To restore national unity is the agenda of centrist Francois Bayrou. For 78-year-old far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, patriotism and immigration were the core issues of the campaign.
The entire world is keen to know as who would be able to take France’s reins from the existing president, Chaque Chirac.
Source: BBC
