AP
Jean-Marie Le Pen casts his ballot at St. Cloud, near Paris

 Mr. Le Pen finished second to incumbent conservative Jacques Chirac in Sunday's elections. The two will face each other in a presidential runoff on May 5.

 Following his stunning loss, Mr. Jospin told shocked supporters that he will resign from politics following the May vote. His Socialist Party also called on its supports to back Mr. Chirac.

 In his own speech, Mr. Chirac called on the nation to rally around democratic values in what was widely seen as an appeal to voters to turn out for the May election.

 With about 95 percent of the official, Interior ministry, results in, Mr. Chirac finished first with more than 19 percent of the vote, followed by Mr. Le Pen with more than 17 percent, with Mr. Jospin in third place with about 16 percent.

 Both the vote totals of the winners and the low turnout, with nearly 30-percent of eligible voters staying away, were record lows. The field was also splintered by a record field of 16 candidates.

 Exit polls also suggest that Mr. Chirac will soundly defeat Mr. Le Pen in the May run-off with 78 percent of the vote.

 Mr. Le Pen, The National Front Party founder, campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform that focused largely on law and order.

 The French press agency says it will be the first time since 1969 that no left wing candidate will be in the final vote for president.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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