French people are voting in regional elections that are expected to reflect widespread disenchantment with President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.It is the last nationwide vote before presidential and parliamentary elections due in 2012. The opposition Socialist Party already controls 20 of the 22 mainland regions and hopes to take the other two. The poll ratings of the centre-right president have plunged in opinion polls and unemployment has risen to 10%. The BBC's Emma Jane-Kirby, in Paris, says that although the election is meant to be about regional issues, voters are bound to use this opportunity to punish the central government.
French people are voting in regional elections that are expected to reflect widespread disenchantment with President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.
It is the last nationwide vote before presidential and parliamentary elections due in 2012.
The opposition Socialist Party already controls 20 of the 22 mainland regions and hopes to take the other two.
The poll ratings of the centre-right president have plunged in opinion polls and unemployment has risen to 10%.
The BBC's Emma Jane-Kirby, in Paris, says that although the election is meant to be about regional issues, voters are bound to use this opportunity to punish the central government.
