MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) is leading in the first round of regional elections in the country with 31 percent of votes, CSA market research firm said Sunday.
According to the results of the poll conducted by the CSA, the National Front, France's top far-right party, led by Marine Le Pen ranked second with 24.5 percent of votes.
The ruling Socialist party of incumbent French President Francois Hollande, backed by 19.7 percent of voters, is on the third place, according to the research agency.
The official results of the first round of the 'departmental' elections in France are to be announced early Monday morning. The Sunday's voting will be followed by a second round on March 29.
