Sarkozy's party suffers at polls

BBC

President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has suffered some serious setbacks in the second round of the French local elections.

Early estimates suggest the opposition socialists have gained Toulouse, Strasbourg and Caen. They also held onto the power bases of Paris and Lyon.

These polls focus on local issues like rubbish collection and parks.

But the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government.

Mr Sarkozy's popularity has plummeted recently in opinion polls, with many French voters saying they are angry he has not yet fulfilled his election promise to increase their spending power.....