Sarkozy’s Party Loses Regional French Poll

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP party has suffered one of the worst defeats of his political career in the French regional elections, reports BBC News.

With over 97% of votes counted, the Socialist-led opposition alliance took 52% of the vote with the UMP on 35%. Prime Minister Francois Fillon acknowledged the defeat, admitting the left's "success."

The results leave the UMP in control of only one of France's 22 regions, the Alsace region in the east. These elections are the last major electoral test in France before the presidential election in 2012. "I assume my share of the responsibility," Fillon said.

He is expected to offer his resignation in a meeting with Sarkozy today. According to the BBC, Sarkozy is, however, unlikely to accept Fillon's resignation as the president's own approval ratings are at an all-time low.

The results expressed the French people's "rejection of the politics of the president and the government," opposition leader Martine Aubry was quoted as saying.

The poor election results have prompted Sarkozy to plan a "modest reshuffle" of the government, his chief of staff Claude Gueant told the Catholic daily La Croix.

A poll now suggests that 57% of people would like to see a change of government after these regional polls. Although these elections are meant to be about regional issues such as public transport, high unemployment and resentment over plans to reform several sectors including the judicial and pension systems have prompted many French people to use their ballot to punish the government.

In the first round ballot, less than half of France bothered to vote — and that cost President Sarkozy's right-wing party dearly. The UMP won just over a quarter of the vote, while the opposition Socialists, combined with other Leftist parties, took 50%.