Last Campaign Day for French Presidential Candidates

  • Hla Than

Today is the last day of campaigning in the French presidential election before Sunday's runoff vote between conservative former Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal.

Both candidates are predicting victory as they court voters up until the last minute before French citizens in overseas territories cast their early ballots.

Sarkozy and Royal faced off in a televised debate Wednesday, during which Sarkozy chided Royal for losing her temper and Royal accusing Sarkozy of accomplishing nothing during his time in the Interior Ministry.

Opinion polls after the debate gave Sarkozy about a six-point lead.

Sarkozy and Royal were the top two finishers in the first round of French presidential elections on April 22nd.

The winner Sunday would succeed President Jacques Chirac, who is retiring from politics.