Pierre , Montreal has it just right. Time for Le Pen and some straight talking about taking our country back from immigrants who have too much power and contribute so little. Patricia, Montreal. now Scotland.

Patricia, St. Andrews , scotland U.K.

Segolene president ? As french people I am really afraid of imaging her representing France abroad. She has no charism and has no idea, all she said is that french people will chose : completely demagogue.
Dear fellow-countrywomen and fellow-countrymen, please don't chose her as president !

Thomas, Paris, France

Whatever else one says about LePen, he knows how to use the French language.

At least he wants to curb immigration and get out of the EU. The beginning of wisdom.

Grumpy Old Man, Laguna Beach, USA

Indeed John the creation of citizen's juries is a great idea and it will renew the french democraty. Perhaps we could even go further and have a real democraty where citizens themselves discuss and vote the laws ? Of course there is the burden of daily work which prevents citizens from studying the common good every week. Unfortunately the social conditions and the individual desire of wealthes are nowadays incompatible with a real democracy.

Walter, Strasbourg, France

i have voted José bové, i know that he will not be on the second turn but i hope that he will have more power in politic. To me environnement must be the first part of the gouvernement action for the next years (to me domonique and "the green" are not real ecologist, they don't have any kind of credit in scientist world, my world, and of course i regret this.) More i think that in france (the second consumer in the world of Pesticides) agriculture must be less stupid and stop the U.E help for cultivating product that we don't need. For exemple : in the south of france in the years 80 they had too much vin's producters, so UE gived money for stop this and now UE give us money to cultivate apples but the problem ? we have too much apple !! the solution? if u'r production can't be sold UE give u again money, and after the apple? you throw all ! but where? in the nature is free and in the dustbin it's cost money !
The solution : u throw in the nature! problem: water contamination

Nodin, Valence, France

Let's go, Sarko...

Edward, London,

Undoubtfully the winner of this great race will be the socialist Marie Segolene Royal : for her opponent raises too much anger and fear in the country, and belongs to the actuel government.

Walter, Strasbourg, France

It is easy to vote for M. Le Pen from Montreal because I have a vantage point.

From here, I can compare and see what thirty years of left and centrist governments have done to France, compare it with other countries and I'm not bombarded by the media which are massively in favor of the current system.

It is time for a change, it is time that France raises again !

Pierre, Montreal, Canada

I'm so happy for Segolene, she's extremely qualified !

frederique, Marseille, France

SARKO PRESIDENT!!!

He's definitely the only one who can run France correctly, and give hope again to the French people.
If he's not elected, I'll leave France. I love my country, but I'm SO fed up to live in a place where so many people don't even pay taxes and and just take advantage of the system. Can't stand the demonstrations anymore. France should be a place where you can create your company much more easily that now, and don't feel guilty to be successful and earn money!

Solene, Cholet, France

Well, well, France will have a woman in charge of this beautiful country for the next five years. I am a Canadian and we need somebody in Europe for making an alliance with the Liberals in North America. France is an alternative to the States in our world. We need peace and negociations not war and destructions.

Charleston, Montreal, Canada

I have voted Bayrou.
Royal is inconsistant, Sarkozy will certainly win but I do not like his positions on immigration and banlieu to be washed with "karsher"
other choices ? extreme right - extreme left : they are not in realities.

grande zaza, Montigny les Cormeilles, FRANCE

Le Pen represets the reactionary politics that cannot be condemned based upon the acceptance of immigration policies in France over last decade. The reaction is similar to what would have happened in the USA if the immigrant population increased the overall population of the USA from1900 to 1920 and put those years into 1990 until present. Politics in the USA would have become noe conservative then and not wait until 2001 when most liberals became conservatives here. In the USA we have zero commitment to party politics and will assume whatever role or policy is convenient to maintain our status quo. It is not necessarily a weakness of our character but rather an understanding that ethics and character are based upon the success of politics at that moment. If any person in the USA would for one minute believe that the status quo of their lifestyle would be compromised we would disregard the worlds problem. We just ended China imports for free.

shainberg, New York, USA

The big issue is that for the most part the French expect something for nothing. Socialisim has been abused and become the norm. Work ethic is low. The French themselves wallow in it. It is a national problem. Where were all the aphartheid supporters after the 1994 South African election? Yet most followed like sheep and gave their blessing either actively or tassidly. Most countries are the same. The US didn't oust Bush did they? Sorry I am synical. Most of us only do something when forced.

Sean Davis, Doha, Qatar

I feel ashamed of being French. Twelve anti-globalization candidates and no libertarian one. All of them wanting to rule Europe.
Two centuries ago, we were the most liberal country with the USA...

Pierre Gardin, Saussey, France

John, Oxford, Monsieur Le Pen is not a 'bigot'. He is French patriot who loves his country and wants to see it retain its identity long into the future. He also will not allow France to follow American around like a lost puppy and become its 51st State. I wish we had a politician like him. I wish him all the best. France is a great nation and it deserves to survive.
Vive La France!

Barry, Brentwood, United Kingdom

No , no, no, another socialist extreme leftish goverment like the one it has govern Spain since the Madrid bombings? Another step towards a more weaker Europe. Spain France, Germany, of course labor in England, Italy will be next. Al- Qaeda and friends are very happy for all this.

F.Bonmati, New Jersey, USA

Well done Michael of Cahgnes. There are many people here in England who think like you do. We used to be the backbone of our nation. Now we are ignored due to the new English tradition of political correctness.

I am English born and bred. I have a University Degree, a stable family and substantial assets. So to those other more 'enlightened' readers, please do not catagorise me as a small bitter and twisted man with a 19th century mentality.

stuart turner, Bristol,

Weren't all polls banned the day before to give time to think? Xavier is right Michael, on everything but 19th century. The French revolution was supposed to end that.

Ben, York,

easy to criticize and vote for the one-eyed cnadidate while leaving in Montréal... You cannot realize what would be the consequences if far-right candidate was elected.

Benjamin, Paris,

Sergeanne Royal does not seem to understand that before you can collect taxes from the rich, you have to create the wealth to tax.
Herein lies her weakness, as well as lack of business experience and how capitalism works to the advantage of all sectors of the community.
Redistributing old money is finite. The creation and nurturing of present and future wealth has a chance of lasting, provided it is managed.
France can only grow stronger if the natural and human resources of this great country are harnessed and made productive, concentrating on added value.

MYLES STANISTREET, CAZENEUVE, FRANCE 32

I'm so ashamed 18% of French voters chose le pen in 2002 and could re-do it today...
What I read here from 2 of them -which are obviously the words of hate- saddens me a lot more: is my country lost ? Let's hope not, we shall today prove that extremism and racism has nothing to do with our presidential election...

Charles, Toulouse, France

Great excitement here and what a beautiful day for it. Joined everyone voting after the sunday morning stroll to the boulangerie.

Allez Sarko!!

Jonny, Rennes, France

Mr Lepen is a dangerous man. He is not only racist he is also unable to run our country. He thinks everything can be fixed only by closing our boards and throwing immigrates outside of our country. But the truth is that our active population decreases and the old population increases. A country can't run without a young force (see our matter of pensions...). The actual part of the immigrants in France is lower than it was during the XXth century. That's why we need immigrants. Moreover Mr lepen hasn't with him people able to lead the country and to take responsiblities. We can't rule a country only with spreading xenophoby. The real solution is to eliminate xenophoby by eliminating its causes (and the first one may be the lack of job security).

So don't vote for Lepen and the conservatives!

Lucie, Sannois, France

Obsessed with the France's predestined 'special role' in the world, French politicians have long refused to face up to France's social and economic problems. A country does not influence and shape the world by protecting its language and culture from the 'anglo-saxon onslaught', or an inward-looking economic policy. Countries influence by being progressive and successful on the domestic level, something which naturally translates onto the international scene.

None of the current candidates looks set to face up to France's problems - an anaemic economy; high unemployment; a fanatical adherence to inflexible labour markets, short working hours and the so-called 'French social model'. Royal makes populist promises which have no grounding in reality; Sarkozy preaches economic liberalism but will not be able to move his party away from economic nationalism; Le Pen is a bigot whose popularity reflects France's insecurity; Bayrou is well-balanced but will not be accepted by the electorate.

John, Oxford, UK

Due to stupid voting laws, I shall spend the next dozen or so years of my life in France voting for my chosen government of the UK.

If I WERE allowed a vote in France, it would go to Jose Bové. Anybody who dismantles a MacDonalds thinks the same way as I do.

Jon Leigh, Southern, France

Ségo has been the smartest candidate so far. Someone who knew her said: people believe she is nice and not very clever. In fact, she very clever and not nice at all. Hopefully, she is going to win. Get use to it.

By the by, I like her idea of citizens' juries. What?? Politicians brought to account??? What's next? A bit of real democracy?

John, London, UK

L'Eminence Grise
Vote Madame Holl.....pardon Ms Royal and you vote for President Francois Hollande and his 4 Dauphins

james hazan, huddersfield, uk

I have voted Le Pen.

He is really the only statesman capable of changing the system and bringing France back on its feet.

Sarko is a maverick angry self-promoter who recently has started to pretend he was everything: devout catholic looking up to John Paul II (see his private life!, his support for abortion, a more solemn gay "union"), a Gaullist (while he is for less sovereignty of France and see the French as arrogant in the chauvinistic defence of the rank and language, he speaks like an American). Sarko has also hinted to more immigration (chosen now) and has not been able to stop the illegal one. His record is very weak, but he is a good actor.

There is no need to speak about Bayrou (well-liked by Muslims and secular people, while pretending to be a catholic, but also for abortion, gay union, etc.).

No need to speak about the Socialist who want things to go on as they have been going for 30 years. A slow decline, more and more European interference, more and more immigration.

Pierre, Montreal, Canada

Michael's comment is simply what LePen says in his campaign about Sarkozy publicly. Pas de scandale.

nelson, paris,

Michael's spectacularly egregious comment almost defies belief: he has, during te course of his five line comment, managed to enlighten us all as to just how pathetically anachronistic and racist his political sentiments are. What an exceptional feat.

jones17, oxford, uk

Jezz!!! Michael.. this kind of remarks really give the creeps!!!

someone who thinks that not being married with her partner is the major handicap of a candidate is so XIX century..

someone who believes that just for having a Hungarian family name someone has less rights in France is so dangerously xenophobe...

Fortunately this remark and his author don't represent the France I know and cherish.

Xavier Oleiro, Cardiff, UK

I shall vote Le Pen, he is the only one who is constant.
Royal should be married to be a president and the socialist make a mess of all; look at mitterend a collabo (vichy) helped his mates and squanderd the nations money. Sarkozy is a copycat of Le Pen. and he is not French.

Michael, Cahagnes, France

According to the latest polls,if Americans were to elect their president today,the electorate will be presented with the same French "Sarkozy-Royal" choice,i.e. a left leaning first female candidate (Hillary),and an ambitious,centerist !security-minded politician(Guilliani). While I beleive France needs a stubborn,tough Sarkozy in the apres-Chirac period to implement a huge restorative job on the French society,I beleive America,in the post-Bush era will need a "rust-remover", a rehabilitator,to clean up the big mess,that America finds itself in,now.Guilliani can not,and will not be able to do that,simply because he will be carried to the White House,by the same old "usual suspects"; the right wing,conservative coalition,who brought us Bush twice,and once there,he will be compromized by the same constraints of the American Right. I can only imagine the huge challenges facing the next American president.May be a woman who is accustomed to scrubbing ,will be more suited for the job.

Essam, Dallas, USA