Francois Hollande, an opposition leader of the French Socialist Party, was elected France’s new president with more than 80 percent of ballots counted, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant said, RIA Novosti reports.
With 98.89 percent of ballots counted, Sarkozy got 48.33 percent of the vote, while Hollande was supported by 51.67 percent.
“On behalf of the government I congratulate the new president of the republic and wish him successful service to the benefit of France,” Gueant said.
Sarkozy, the incumbent French president, has already admitted his rival’s victory in the runoff presidential vote on Sunday.
