French Election

Sarkozy Comes in Second

Challenger Francois Hollande takes 28.6 percent of vote.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy stood his first reelection trial Sunday as voters went to the polls to choose two candidates for a runoff election May 6. In exit polls, Sarkozy pulled through with 27 percent of the vote, losing by a narrow margin to rival Francois Hollande, who took 28.6 percent. Sarkozy's campaign has struggled to gain traction, and the incumbent has found himself up against the ropes on economic issues in recent weeks. Marine Le Pen of the rightist National Front party came in with 19 percent of the vote. Sarkozy will likely try to scoop up some or all of those voters before he and Hollande go mano-a-mano in May.