Le Pen asks supporters not to vote

Far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen today urged his supporters to abstain from voting in France’s presidential runoff on Sunday between conservative Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal.

Le Pen, speaking in a traditional May Day rally, said he was focusing on next month’s parliamentary elections.

The far-right leader was placed fourth in the April 22 first-round vote with 3.8 million votes.

“I invite voters who trusted me not to cast ballots for Madame Royal or Mr Sarkozy. I invite them expressly to abstain massively.”