First round of presidential elections showed that the French favour right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, rather than socialist Segolene Royal. Latest public opinion surveys go in favour of rightist Sarkozy who got 54.5 percent, while socialist Royal got 45.5 percent of the votes.

Jean-Marie Le Pen who won 13 percent of the votes in the first round invited his voters to boycott the elections, while centrist Bayrou, to whom 18 percent of the French gave their vote, said he did not want to support neither Segolene Royalnor Nicolas Sarkozy. It remains uncertain who will voters of rightist Le Pen and centrist Bayrous support.

Fight for votes

A fierce struggle was lead for the past two weeks of the presidential campaign for the votes of the two candidates who were knocked out in the first round, extreme rightist Jean-Marie Le Pen and centrist Francois Bayrou. Socialist Royal was forced to compromise in her desire for the presidential seat, and to turn right.

Economic recovery

Presidential candidates had to adjust their programmes to the French who are dissatisfied with the economic situation and the position of their country in Europe. Sarkozy`s slogan is to “enable the worker to work more in order to earn more”. He promises to realise complete employment, which means decrease unemployment from the current 8to 5 percent. Royal advocates the increase of minimum wages of 1,500 euro and an increase of pensions, aid while employing young people and not-qualified workers. The European Union believes that Sarkozy offers a better exit from the economic crisis, a better tax reform, deregulation of the labour market and a free market like the one European Commission supports.

Immigration and suburbs

Weak points of the French society are suburbs and immigrants. Conservative Sarkozy wants to establish Ministries of Integrations and National Identity, to develop “immigration of quality immigration”, which implies import of qualifies foreigners. For children living in suburbs and in non-favourable conditions, Sarkozy offers a social plan. Segolne Royal will solve the immigration problem based on an assessment of each distinctive case, and the right to French citizenship will go to all who have continuously been staying in France for at least 10 years. Another confirmation of Royal`s “flirting” with the right-wing is a proposition for military camps to be opened in the suburbs, in which minor delinquents would be disciplined.

Turkey on hold

If Sarkozy wins, and establishes an alliance with Germany, Britain and the European Commission, the doors of the European Union will remain closed for Turkey for years. A firm position over Turkey can stir up trans-Atlantic relations with the USA, which is a Turkish ally.

Future of the European Union

Results of the presidential elections will have a great influence on the European Union and the future of the European constitution because Royal and Sarkozy have different views towards Europe. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, British Prime Minister who will back down Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel support Sarkozy because they see his victory as a chance to establish a powerful four to rule the European Union.

Royal has the support of the south of Europe with leftist prime ministers Italian Romano Prodi and Spanish Jose Zapatero, but their countries do not have such powerful influence in the EU as Sarkozy`s supporters. The European Commission believes that rightist Sarkozy offers a better plan for the revival of the European Constitution, which would be placed for voting in the Parliament, while Segolene Royal wants to update the constitutional accord and hold another referendum which causes a risk that the constitution will not pass the referendum voting. While Royal supports Turkish EU membership, Sarkozy powerfully opposes the entry of this country into European company.

Critics of Segolene Royal consider she did not manage to adequately present her programme and that she is not feisty enough to become the future president of France, while on the other hand Sarkozy has showed more edge and feistiness, and his programme was more substantial.