France is on the edge of rejecting austerity.
French Socialist Francois Hollande has won most votes in the first round of the country's Presidential election. Francois Hollande won more than 28% of votes against the 26% won by Nicolas Sarkozy.
This is the first time a French president running for re-election has failed to win the first roundsince 1958.
Sarkosky has called for three debates between now and the second round in a fortnights time. The debates will be on the economy, social issues, and international relations.
Hollande secured one of the left's best ever first round results which should help momentum towards the second round.
Ugly racism has reared its head again with Marine Le Pen's Front National securing its best result ever. The rise of the far right is not however a guarantee for Sarskosky. Le Pen has avoided the extremist rhetoric of her father, who once called the holocaust a "detail of history". She has pressed for import controls, higher wages and for France to leave the Euro. To boost her poll numbers her party just before the election returned to calls of France for the French.
The Front National won support from tax workers and benefit staff in the public sector. Their support is not likely to carry forward to Sarksosky who has adopted a policy of only filling one in every two vacancies that come up as a result of staff leaving.
Jean-Luc Melenchon, who was supported by the Communist Party, came fourth with almost 12%, he has now endorsed Hollande.
The important thing to take away from tonight is that the last time a sitting President went into the second round as a contestant, a new Republic was born.