Union for a Popular Movement (UMP)'s candidate Nicolas Sarkozy could emerge victorious in the second round of the French presidential elections by garnering 53.5 percent of the votes cast, against the socialist candidate Segolene Royal who is credited with 46.5 percent, according to a poll released by Ipsos/Dell survey Institute and published on Friday by the French weekly Le Point.

This is the 44th daily electoral survey carried out by Ipsos/ Dell since March 1. The survey is updated every day, except on Sundays and will continue until May 4, 48 hours before the second round of the presidential elections.

According to the survey, Sarkozy is still leading in the first round with 30 percent of the votes compared to Royal's 23 percent, whereas the centrist UDF candidate Francois Bayrou is credited with 18 percent of the votes ahead of the extreme-right FN candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen with 13 percent.

The survey show that if the centrist and UMP candidates face off in second round, then Francois Bayrou will emerge the winner with 52 percent against Sarkozy's 48 percent. However, about 19 percent of those certain to cast their ballot have not expressed their intention to vote along this pattern.

This survey carried out telephone on April 18 and April 19 from a national sample of 1,209 people, representing the registered voters in the electoral lists.

The first round of the presidential elections will take place on Sunday April 22 with 12 candidates in contention. The second round will be held on May 6 to enable the French voters to elect their new president between the two first round front runners.

Source: Xinhua