Paris:
The French Presidential Election campaign kicked off officially on Monday. The first round of voting is on April 22 followed by a second round, if necessary, on May 6.
All French citizens vote directly in a secret ballot. If no single candidate gets more than half the votes there is a second round. The second round takes place between two candidates with the highest number of votes.
The President is elected in France for a five-year term. Here's your 10-point cheat sheet on the French presidential polls and the main contenders.
1. President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a stiff challenge from socialist candidate François Hollande. Opinion polls show Mr Sarkozy leading in the first round (Nicolas Sarkozy: 29.5% François Hollande: 27.5%) but trailing behind Mr Hollande in the second round (Hollande: 55%; Sarkozy: 45% Source:IPSOS).
2. Nicolas Sarkozy who is the candidate of the Centre Right party UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) came to power in 2007 after beating the Socialist Party candidate Segolène Royale by 6 points.
3. During his term, Mr Sarkozy brought in the full-face veil ban and increased the retirement age from 60 to 62. He led the campaign for international action against Muammar Gaddafi during the Libyan uprising in 2011. Mr Sarkozy visited India in 2010 and supports India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
4. Mr Sarkozy has been criticised for wooing the far right and alienating the Muslim population of France. He has been called "Mr Bling Bling" and "pro-rich". He is often criticised for "bending" too much to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the European Union.
5. Mr Sarkozy wants to reduce immigration from 180,000 to 100,000 per year, adopt austerity measures and create new taxes to cut public deficit. He also wants to curb layouts to CEOs of French companies.
6. François Hollande who is Sarkozy's main contender from the left PS (Socialist Party) is often called "Mister Normal". He used to go to work on a scooter until very recently. He is considered a veteran leftist leader and is the former partner of Segolène Royal. Ms Royal was defeated by Sarkozy in the last elections in 1997.
7. Mr Hollande's discourse towards French Muslims is inclusive and he says French people of foreign descent are an asset to France. His modest ways have also been criticised as his weakness and his critics say he lacks the dynamism to lead France. He has never held a ministerial post but is a veteran leader, and has been a member of the French Parliament since 1988.
8. Mr Hollande wants to slap a 75% tax on those whose annual income 1 million euros or more. He wants to focus on growth more than austerity measures to deal with France's economic woes. He wants to create more teaching jobs and more state aided jobs.
9. The candidates on the 3rd and 4th position in opinion polls are from the far left and far right. Jean Luc Melenchon (Left Front) says immigration is not a problem whereas reducing immigration is key to the far right candidate Marine Le Pen's (National Front) populist campaign. Both are anti-capitalist. Mr Melenchon is pro-Euro while Mr Le Pen is a staunch euro-sceptic.
10. France is Europe's second largest economy but it's growth forecast for 2012 is just 0.5%. Standard & Poor's slashed it's credit rating from AAA to AA+ in January 2012. French voters are worried about high unemployment.
All French citizens vote directly in a secret ballot. If no single candidate gets more than half the votes there is a second round. The second round takes place between two candidates with the highest number of votes.
The President is elected in France for a five-year term. Here's your 10-point cheat sheet on the French presidential polls and the main contenders.
1. President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a stiff challenge from socialist candidate François Hollande. Opinion polls show Mr Sarkozy leading in the first round (Nicolas Sarkozy: 29.5% François Hollande: 27.5%) but trailing behind Mr Hollande in the second round (Hollande: 55%; Sarkozy: 45% Source:IPSOS).
2. Nicolas Sarkozy who is the candidate of the Centre Right party UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) came to power in 2007 after beating the Socialist Party candidate Segolène Royale by 6 points.
3. During his term, Mr Sarkozy brought in the full-face veil ban and increased the retirement age from 60 to 62. He led the campaign for international action against Muammar Gaddafi during the Libyan uprising in 2011. Mr Sarkozy visited India in 2010 and supports India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
4. Mr Sarkozy has been criticised for wooing the far right and alienating the Muslim population of France. He has been called "Mr Bling Bling" and "pro-rich". He is often criticised for "bending" too much to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the European Union.
5. Mr Sarkozy wants to reduce immigration from 180,000 to 100,000 per year, adopt austerity measures and create new taxes to cut public deficit. He also wants to curb layouts to CEOs of French companies.
6. François Hollande who is Sarkozy's main contender from the left PS (Socialist Party) is often called "Mister Normal". He used to go to work on a scooter until very recently. He is considered a veteran leftist leader and is the former partner of Segolène Royal. Ms Royal was defeated by Sarkozy in the last elections in 1997.
7. Mr Hollande's discourse towards French Muslims is inclusive and he says French people of foreign descent are an asset to France. His modest ways have also been criticised as his weakness and his critics say he lacks the dynamism to lead France. He has never held a ministerial post but is a veteran leader, and has been a member of the French Parliament since 1988.
8. Mr Hollande wants to slap a 75% tax on those whose annual income 1 million euros or more. He wants to focus on growth more than austerity measures to deal with France's economic woes. He wants to create more teaching jobs and more state aided jobs.
9. The candidates on the 3rd and 4th position in opinion polls are from the far left and far right. Jean Luc Melenchon (Left Front) says immigration is not a problem whereas reducing immigration is key to the far right candidate Marine Le Pen's (National Front) populist campaign. Both are anti-capitalist. Mr Melenchon is pro-Euro while Mr Le Pen is a staunch euro-sceptic.
10. France is Europe's second largest economy but it's growth forecast for 2012 is just 0.5%. Standard & Poor's slashed it's credit rating from AAA to AA+ in January 2012. French voters are worried about high unemployment.
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