Exit polls from France's regional elections indicate the governing centre-right coalition has suffered a major setback.
| Sacred blue! Not a setback majeur! |
The polls put the left-wing opposition 6% ahead of the parties in government. They give the far-right National Front the same level of support as in the 2002 presidential elections.
The poll was seen as a mid-term test for the government. Many voters were expected to reflect discontent with high unemployment and social reforms.
| "Zere are simply no jobs for apache dancers anymore! It is ze gummint's fault!" |
The initial results combined with exit polls show the government has done badly with the centre-right gaining just 34% of the vote compared with the opposition Socialists on 40.5%.
| "Oui! We need someone to manage l'economie!" |
These results are bad news for the French government which has suffered significant losses in several key regions, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris.
| "Bad news, M. le President! We have suffered significant losses in several key regions!" |
Ahead of the vote, opinion surveys also suggested growing apathy with up to 50% of people saying they may not vote at all.
| "I tried to work up some apathy, but I just didn't care enough." |
The elections, which are held every six years, are for the country's 22 regional councils. However the issues are national. There is growing public discontent over a government perceived by many as unable to cut high and rising unemployment. Reforms aimed at lowering the country's high social security costs have also proved deeply unpopular.
| How about the fact that M. le President is an arrogant crook?... No. I guess not. They expect that sort of thing in La Belle France. |
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