French left beats Sarkozy's party in regional vote
None
The long-flailing French left made a big-time comeback Sunday, crushing Nicolas Sarkozy's conservatives in regional elections colored by voters' economic worries - and informally kicking off the 2012 presidential race.
Cheers resounded from Socialist Party headquarters as leftists swept races from the French Riviera to Paris. With 93% of ballots counted, the Socialists and their allies won 53.8% of the vote nationwide, while Sarkozy's UMP party had 34.97%, according to the Interior Ministry. (AP)
