Mon, April 23, 2012
PARIS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- French socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande who slightly widens lead incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy as Sunday's presidential election vote tally mounts, called voters to help make "a great victory" in run-off voting.
"Tonight, I become by the French vote the candidate of all the forces who want to close a page and open another. Thanks to you, tonight, change is now running, and nothing, I say nothing, will stop it," Hollande said in a speech at his headquarters in Tulle, south west France.
"On May 6, I want a great victory worth of France of its history and its future," he told supporters.
Portrayed himself as the best candidate to cruise to the Elysee Palace after Sunday's results, Hollande urged a large gathering which "should be as wide as possible" in the decisive round scheduled on May 6.
Based on a tally of 79 percent of ballots, official data showed on Sunday, Hollande won 28.0 percent versus 26.9 percent for Sarkozy in the first round of France's presidential election. The two leading candidates will meet in a second round.
Sarkozy on Sunday challenged Hollande to hold three public debates with him before the second round of the vote. "I propose that three debates be organised. The French have the right to truth and clarity," he told supporters.
The presidential frontrunners Sarkozy and Hollande are set to resume their duel on April 27 with a series of campaign rallies. A face-to-face television debate is scheduled for May 2.
