Partial official results show leftists defeat Sarkozy’s conservatives in French regional vote

Partial results show French left wins regions vote

PARIS — Partial official results show that France’s opposition left handily beat President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservatives in regional elections.

The Interior Ministry says the Socialist Party and its allies won 53.7 percent of the overall national vote, the conservative UMP and its allies won 35.2 percent of the vote, and the far right National Front 10 percent. The ministry says 80.2 percent of votes have been counted.

The results region by region are still coming in.

Polls predicted that conservatives would hold onto Alsace, one of only two regions run by the right going into the vote and a closely watched race.

Many voters are frustrated with Sarkozy’s handling of the economic crisis.