PUDUCHERRY: Around half of 5,259 French citizens living in the Union Territory exercised their voting rights during the second round of French Presidential election that was held at the French Consulate here on Sunday.
The first round of voting was held on April 21.
For the second round there were four booths set up in Puducherry, while Chennai and Karaikal had one each.
Lt Col (Hon) Mouhamea Moustafa, founder president of the Association of French Citizens, said the socialists would be the favourite as their win is essential to save France from its current economic crisis. When the poll was on he said Conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy has less chance of winning this time as many feel that his rule was a disappointment. Sixty-five year old Andro, who exercised his franchise, said he was proud to vote in the second round of polling, which witnesses a tighter contest this time.
The polling pits Sarkozy against Socialist Francois Hollande in a straight contest. With Hollande’s victory he is set to become France’s first Socialist president in 17 years and Sarkozy became the 11th European leader to be swept from office by the economic crisis.