Nicolas Sarkozy won the French presidency yesterday with a solid majority that he described as a mandate for a moral renaissance and the radical reform of the welfare state.

Thousands celebrated late into the night after Mr Sarkozy, 52, the leader of President Chirac’s Union for a Popular Movement, defeated Ségolène Royal, the Socialist, with 53 per cent of the vote. Their bitter duel drew a near-record turnout of 85 per cent. “Together we are going to write a new page of history,” the victor told cheering supporters.

Ms Royal accepted defeat with a smile, telling supporters that she had relaunched the Left. “Something has risen which will not stop. Let us keep intact the energy and joy . . . of this campaign,” she said. Her Socialist colleagues were, however, bitter over their party’s third presidential defeat in a row. “The flag of the Left lies on the ground,” Laurent Fabius, one of the most senior Socialists, said.

Mr Sarkozy delivered a lyrical victory speech, promising to be “the president of all the French” and to introduce immediate and radical reform. “The French have chosen to break with the ideas, habits and behaviour of the past. I will restore the value of work, authority, merit and respect for the nation.”

He offered friendship to the US, but urged Washington to act on climate change. He also told fellow European leaders that he expected them to join him in making the EU more protective. “It must not be the Trojan horse for globalisation’s ills,” he said.

By choosing Mr Sarkozy, France turned a deaf ear to warnings that his plans to restore the work ethic, cut welfare and fight crime would lead to violence. Police were out in force in Paris and in the immigrant districts of other cities; there were clashes in the capital last night when protestors smashed up cars and bus shelters while police fired tear gas in response.

The election’s result – the first win since 1969 by a candidate from the outgoing President’s party – marks a change of generation after 12 years under President Chirac, 74. During the campaign all candidates offered paths for ending the relative economic decline and moral malaise that has afflicted France for 15 years. Mr Sarkozy had promised the most radical – and un-French – recipe. “Work more to earn more” was his simple slogan.

Ms Royal’s defeat is expected to lead to Socialist party bloodletting after elections for a new National Assembly in six weeks. Voters are expected to return a parliament dominated by the UMP.

Timetable for the handover

May 6 Voters cast ballots in the second round of the presidential election. The new President will be elected to a five-year term that ends in 2012

May 16 Deadline for the Constitutional Council, the body that supervises the election, to announce the official results. President Chirac, elected in 1995 and reelected in 2002, must hand over power to the new head of state. Dominique de Villepin, the Prime Minister, presents the resignation of the Government to the new President. A caretaker government is appointed

May 18 Deadline for candidates to register for the legislative elections

June 10 First round of the legislative elections. Voters are choosing representatives to the 577 seats of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament

June 17 Second round of legislative elections. A new government is appointed

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