France: Sarkozy lands strong blow

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s center-right party was largely defeated at the regional elections on Sunday, Interior Ministry figures showed today.

The French president has been dealt a blow by French voters, as near-complete official results point to a strong showing by rival Socialists in the polls.

Sarkozy’s UMP party took just over a quarter of the vote, putting it in second place behind the Socialist Party, which took 29 percent.

Three leftist parties combined (Socialists, Europe Ecology and Left Front) took just over 47 percent of the vote.

The far-right National Front took 11.5 percent, and the centrist MODEM party trailed in last with just over 4 percent.

As much as 11 percent of ballots were invalid, blank or cast for smaller parties.

Martine Aubry, the leader of the Socialists, called the result “encouraging”, saying voters wanted “to express their wish for a more just and stronger France”.

Many blame Sarkozy for failing to protect jobs as France reels from the global economic slowdown, which has sent unemployment soaring to its highest level in a decade, with nearly three million people without a job.

Next Sunday will btake place the second and final round, the last vote before the presidential election of 2012.