Francois Hollande adorns the front page of France's Liberation newspaper after the first round of a presidential poll that put him in the lead.<br/> <br />The newspaper is one of the nation's biggest and seen as a bastion of French leftist values.<br/> <br />Hollande scooped more than 28 per cent of Sunday's vote.<br/> <br />The incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, is trailing on just over 27 per cent.<br/> <br />It's the first time a sitting president has come second in the first round of the contest in France.<br/> <br />But Sarkozy's supporters, like Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, insist there's still everything to fight for.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER ALAIN JUPPE SAYING (French):<br/> <br />"It's not what we were expecting. We were expecting a catastrophe."<br/> <br />The country's socialist leaders are celebrating Francois Hollande's initial success.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: FORMER PRIME MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"My guess is that most people will favour Mr Hollande because they want a change in French politics.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: DEPUTY SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER HARLEM DESIR SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"Sarkozy is now absolutely isolated. There are no other candidates who call for supporting him in the second round.<br/> <br />One of the big surprises of the day was the record 18 per cent first-round score for anti-immigration crusader Marine le Pen.<br/> <br />Her supporters may well decide who becomes France's next president when Sarkozy and Hollande fight it out in the second round vote on May 6th.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
