President Nicholas Sarkozy faces an uphill battle to retain power in France’s much-anticipated presidential election. The most recent polls ahead of the April 22 first round show Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande in the lead, with Sarkozy close behind, followed by fiery leftist leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and then far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen. The surveys suggest Hollande would easily trump the incumbent in the head-to-head run-off, scheduled for May 6. Last month’s killing spree by an Islamist gunman has had political ramifications: initially boosting Sarkozy’s campaign but not enough to see him overtake Hollande. Meanwhile Melenchon, a one-time Trotskyist who co-heads a coalition of far-left parties, has surged in recent weeks to claim around 15% of the electorate, according to opinion polls.
Ballot Box Watch: Your Guide to April Elections
Global Spin previews this month's upcoming polls around the world
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