Socialist Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy are advancing to the runoff of France's presidential elections, according to preliminary results published by the country’s Interior Ministry on Sunday.
With about 33 percent of the vote counted, Hollande had 27.5 percent of ballots cast and Sarkozy 26.6 percent, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry after Sunday's first-round election.
Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen came third with between 17 and 20 per cent, beating far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, who scored between 10.5 and 13 per cent, according to the estimates.
