Simon Heffer:
It rarely happens to a country that a clear opportunity is presented to it to save itself from ruin. Only once since the war has it happened to Britain, in 1979, when the people realised that the end of the road had been reached with the consensus that had prevailed since the Second World War, and it was time to start again on a different basis. Tomorrow, France can choose to have its 1979.
Early reports say the French turn out in record numbers to vote. The socialist candidate Royal, who ran on status quo and more welfare, threatened that a victory for Sarkozy will lead to violent riots. That may well be true; at least the police fears that, and has riot police standing by in the immigrant-dominated suburbs where you'd be a fool to park your car tonight.
That is how politics has become in Europe: the left is reactionary, the right is for reform.
Every opinion poll has a clear lead for Sarkozy. French law bans the publication of opinion polls until the close of the polling booths, but that is no restraint on foreign web sites.
Update: Sarkozy won handily.
Conservative Nicolas Sarkozy has won the hotly-contested French presidential election, according to projections made from partial results.
Mr Sarkozy is estimated to have won 53% of the vote, compared with 47% for socialist Segolene Royal.
The turnout was the highest for more than two decades, at about 85%.
Now the real hard work begins for the new president, as the socialists plan to take the fight to the streets to block any and all reform.
4:53:31 PM 
|
