Sarkozy: Socialist Francois Hollande

Nicolas Sarkozy Dept: PARIS -- Socialist Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy are heading for a runoff election in their race for France's presidency, according to partial official results in a vote that could alter the European political and economic landscape, according to Winnipeg Free Press. With 75 per cent of the vote counted, Hollande had 27.9 per cent of ballots cast and Sarkozy 26.7 per cent, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry after final polls closed and michel Spingler / The Associated Press Nicolas Sarkozy speaks at his campaign headquarters in Paris Sunday. CP French voters defied expectations and handed a surprisingly strong third-place showing to far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who has run on an anti-immigrant platform aimed largely at Muslims. That could boost her influence on the French political scene, hand her party seats in parliament and affect relations with minorities. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.