By IRNA
Paris : President Nicolas Sarkozy’s ruling UMP conservative party is trailing in the first round of French local elections.
Early results, based on a count of 65.7 percent of votes, put the UMP at 45.5 percent with the opposition socialists at 47 percent.
The vote is seen as a test of Sarkozy’s first year in office. His popularity has fallen in recent months.
However, the socialists’ lead is smaller than some predicted, and the outcome in some large cities in particular remains finely balanced.
Socialist leader Francois Hollande said voters had sent a warning to Sarkozy and the government over its policies.
The Socialists are expected to hold on to power in Paris and Lyon and exit polls suggested they could also take Marseille, Strasbourg and Toulouse from Sarkozy’s party.
But although UMP head Patrick Devedjian admitted earlier that the results were “not good”, another conservative said there had been no “pink wave” – meaning no surge of left-wing support across the country.
The second round run-off is scheduled for March 16.
In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper on Thursday, Sarkozy played down the expected UMP losses.
“The crucial date for me is the end of my term” in 2012, he said.
He has insisted there will be no cabinet reshuffle, and that his reform program will go ahead regardless.
The president’s approval ratings reached 67 percent in July last year.
But recent opinion polls suggest up to two-thirds of French voters now disapprove of his policies.