Sarkozy takes French presidency

[Matt D]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6630797.stm

Originally Posted by BBC News

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won the hotly-contested French presidential election, according to early results.

With three quarters of votes counted, Mr Sarkozy has 53%, compared with 47% for socialist Segolene Royal, while turnout is put at 85%.

Mr Sarkozy, 52, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, takes over from the 74-year-old Jacques Chirac.

Riot police have fired tear gas at demonstrators protesting in central Paris at Mr Sarkozy's victory.

According to the French news agency AFP, a few hundred stone-throwing rioters charged the police in the Place de la Bastille, where 5,000 supporters of Segolene Royal had earlier gathered to hear the results.

(snip)

[Halcyon]

It was quite close !
From what I've heard on the french radio tonight there have been quite a few fights in towns accross France by people not too happy with the way things have gone.
The French government has been needing re-structuring for quite some time and I think it is still unsettled at the moment. It is going to take quite some time for things to get to normal.

[Gareth]

Yep, Sarkozy winning was always going to be unpopular with those from the banlieus. Sego put up a good fight, especially last week's TV showdown, from what I've heard, but I guess she didn't quite have what it takes to convince the majority.

[BBKing]

This should be fun to watch. Ghastly man, but the French, man. Electing a neo-con in 2007 is a really daft idea - he's going to rock up in Washington looking for the organ grinders to find the remaining ones walled up in the Oval Office, wearing underpants on their head and sticking straws in their hair.

Oh well, there goes the neighbourhood.