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Mon 03 Mar 2010Sarkozy party beaten in poll
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party was beaten by the Socialists in the first round of regional elections held yesterday, according to early results which also showed a resurgence for the far-right.
Mr Sarkozy has tried to play down the importance of the ballot, saying it would have no impact on his reform drive and would not force a major cabinet reshuffle, but the scale of the projected loss heartened the Socialists after years of bitter infighting.
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