French Socialists pick 2012 presidential candidate

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15232383

For the first time, any eligible voter sharing leftist values can take part, and polling stations are open across the country.

With the withdrawal of previous frontrunner Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the new favourite is Francois Hollande.

Opinion polls suggest he would beat the incumbent, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

While polls suggest Mr Sarkozy is still deeply unpopular with the electorate, there are question marks over the Socialist Party's economic policies.

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1. From what I read in French papers, the vote is a success.

People are so fed up with Sarkozy that they go to vote in the socialist primary as a signal.