PARIS – Francois Hollande, a mild-mannered French Socialist who wants to take better care of the jobless and the poor, is heading to a presidential runoff election against tough-on-immigration Nicolas Sarkozy in a vote that could alter Europe’s political and economic landscape.

Hollande heads into the May 6 second round with the upper hand after edging the conservative Sarkozy in the first round of France’s voting Sunday, according to near-complete official results.

In the campaign’s biggest surprise, 18.3 percent of voters chose far right candidate Marine Le Pen, 43, instead, handing her a solid third place and a chance to weigh in on French politics with her anti-immigration platform that targets France’s millions of Muslims. It was the best showing ever by the far right National Front party founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.

With 93 percent of the vote counted, Hollande had 28.4 percent of the ballots cast and Sarkozy 27 percent, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry.

Turnout was surprisingly high, at more than 80 percent, despite concern that a campaign focusing on nostalgia for a more protected past would fail to inspire voters.

The 57-year-old Hollande, who has worried financial markets with his pledges to boost government spending, vowed Sunday night to cut France’s huge debts, boost growth and unite the French after Sarkozy’s divisive first term.

“Tonight I become the candidate of all the forces who want to turn one page and turn over another,” Hollande told an exuberant crowd in his political fiefdom, Tulle, in central France.

Sarkozy, 57, speaking at his campaign headquarters on Paris’ Left Bank, said he recognized voters’ concerns about jobs and immigration, and “the concern of our compatriots to preserve their way of life.”

 

Copy the Story Link