Nicolas Sarkozy, candidate of the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, will win the second round of French presidential elections set for May 6, with 52 percent of all the valid votes cast, according to an opinion poll published on Monday.

According to the results of the poll which was conducted by LH2 for 20 minutes, RMC and BFM television stations, Segolene Royal, candidate of the Socialist Party will garner 48 percent of all the votes cast during this round.

The opinion poll was conducted on Friday and Saturday, just before and after the broadcasted debate between Royal and centrist candidate Francois Bayrou who obtained 18.8 percent of all the votes cast during the first round.

About 80 percent of the respondents said that they were sure of their final choice, 12 percent preferred one candidate but could change opinion, while eight percent were still hesitant.

On the night of the first round, LH2 conducted an opinion poll for 20 minutes, RMC and BFM television stations showing that 54 percent of the voters preferred Sarkozy against 46 percent for Royal.

Around 40 percent of Bayrou supporters are still not sure who to vote for during the second round of the elections.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2007)