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Sarkozy's chances fade ahead of French runoff
Added At: 2012-05-04 10:46 PM
Last Updated At: 2012-05-04 10:46 PM
REUTERS
PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy’s chances of clinging to power were fading two days before France’s election runoff after far-right and centrist leaders deserted him, despite polls putting Socialist Francois Hollande’s lead at its narrowest so far.
Centrist Francois Bayrou appeared to drive a nail into the conservative president’s political coffin by declaring yesterday he would vote for Hollande, and accusing Sarkozy of pandering to the xenophobic, anti-European far-right and being obsessed with immigration. Earlier this week, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who won 17.9 per cent on the April 22 first round, also refused to endorse Sarkozy, saying she would cast a blank ballot on Sunday. Final opinion polls issued on Friday - but taken before Bayrou’s surprise move — showed Hollande’s lead has narrowed to as little as five points from as wide as 10 in recent weeks.
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