Sarkozy ‘punished’ in the polls as top cities swing left

FRANCE voted yesterday in the final round of local elections that looked set to inflict heavy losses on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-wing party as the left vies for control of the top four cities.

The elections were the first big test of Sarkozy’s popularity since he took office 10 months ago on a platform that called for sweeping economic and social reforms.

In the first round of voting last Sunday, the Socialists won re-election in the third city of Lyon and were on course for a decisive victory in Paris, consolidating their hold on two cities taken from the right in 2001.