Nicolas Sarkozy's party appears to be heading for a damaging defeat in regional elections with French voters taking the opportunity to show their displeasure with the president.

With the majority of the votes from the weekend counted the opposition Socialist party appears set for victory with over 53 per cent of the vote and Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party registering only 39.8 per cent.

The elections are the last national polls before the presidential and parliamentary elections, set for 2012, and come as Mr Sarkozy's popularity rating sits at an all-time low.

While the French president has attempted to play down the importance of the results, claiming the election is only about regional matters, many analysts claim voters have used the polls as an opportunity to vent their anger at Mr Sarkozy and his government.

The current administration is facing continued disapproval over its handing of the economic crisis, as the unemployment rate remains at ten per cent, and an unpopular reforming agenda.

Leader of the Socialists, Martine Aubry, described the provisional results as "encouraging", claiming voters had wanted to "express their wish for a more just and stronger France".

"By this vote the French people have sent a clear and strong message of refusal to a France that is divided, anguished and weakened," she added.

The far-right National Front party also picked up a greater than predicted percentage of the vote of around 12 per cent.

Responding to the news the party's leader Jean-Marie Le Pen appeared on national television holding a poster declaring: "No to Islamism", and urging voters to back the National Front again in the second round of voting.

The 81-year-old added his party was "combative and capable of rebuilding this country, which is in a horrible state".
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