Far-right's Le Pen to announce endorsement

Extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen was today expected to tell his supporters how he’ll vote in the weekend finale of France’s presidential election.

Ahead of Sunday’s balloting, polls suggested front-running conservative Nicolas Sarkozy could reap most of the support among the 3.8 million French who voted for Le Pen in the April 22 primary.

It would be a surprise if he were to throw his backing to Socialist Segolene Royal, Sarkozy’s rival – while Le Pen could call on his supporters to abstain or cast blank ballots.

Le Pen was leading one of an estimated 250 rallies and demonstrations across France today – most of them mounted by left-leaning labour unions for the traditional May Day holiday celebration.

Unions are expected to turn out in force largely amid concerns that Sarkozy, if elected, will make good on his campaign pledge to require minimum service by workers in public transport during strikes.

Sarkozy held to his stance today, saying he would require three hours of bus and subway service during the morning and evening rush hours.

Unions fear such a requirement could deplete their bargaining power against management.