Centrist voters who hold the key to this weekend’s French presidential elections prefer Socialist Segolene Royal over conservative Nicolas Sarkozy - but not enough to cut into Mr Sarkozy’s lead, according to the latest poll.

France's presidential race headed into its final week today with conservative former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy holding a narrow but enduring lead over socialist candidate Segolene Royal.

FRENCH centrist Francois Bayrou, whose voters hold the key to next month’s presidential election, accused front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday of subverting free speech by stifling a televised debate with a rival.

The battle between French conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal heated up today as their camps tried tactics to woo voters in the political centre – the key decision-makers in the presidential race.

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal advanced to a run-off for the French presidency today offering voters a stark choice of left or right for a nation eager for new direction.

French citizens voted en masse today to choose a new president, in a suspense-filled election that could be a turning point for France as it tries to steer a course into the 21st century.

Tomorrow sees the start of the most fascinating French presidential election in decades, reports Europe Correspondent, Ann Cahill.

THE EU Constitution has been put on hold awaiting the outcome of the French presidential election but the four main candidates have been careful to avoid any major debate with the public on the issue.

FRANCE’S presidential candidates made their final pushes for votes as polls yesterday pointed to a cliffhanger among the top four hopefuls, led by conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal.

Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy still the front-runner as France's volatile presidential race sped into its last week today.

A Socialist former French prime minister is urging Nicolas Sarkozy’s major rivals to unite in a nearly unthinkable alliance to keep the front-running conservative party candidate out of the Elysee Palace.

French voters woke up to very different airwaves today as the race for next month’s presidential elections formally took off and each of the 12 candidates was granted equal broadcast time.

French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy lengthened his lead over his chief two rivals, according to a poll released today, as all three sought to broaden their electoral base in the volatile race.

French President Jacques Chirac has announced he is to leave politics.

A new opinion poll suggests centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy would beat Socialist contender Segolene Royal in a likely second-round vote in France’s presidential election in three months’ time.

Calls of back-stabbing and betrayal further soured the political atmosphere of France, already heavy with dirty tricks allegations, after the centrist leader’s decision to vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has been sidelined. President Jacques Chirac has been forced into a subtle switch of loyalties to save face. And the two leaders’ mutual rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, is now at centre-stage.