French local election gains for socialists and far-right

Pressure on Sarkozy a year before he faces electorate after good results for opposition

France's opposition Socialist party comprehensively won local elections Sunday as the far-right National Front surged, between them pressuring Nicolas Sarkozy a year before he faces the electorate. With most votes counted in the second round of voting to elect around half of the town councils in France, the left had 49.9% against 35.9% for the ruling conservative Union for a Popular Movement, according to interior ministry figures. Turnout was put at 46%. The National Front scored 11% even though it put up candidates in only a minority of departments. In some areas it scored as much as 40%.