“French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s center-right party emerged badly battered after regional elections on Sunday, Interior Ministry figures showed Monday. Sarkozy’s UMP party took just over a quarter of the vote, putting it in second place behind the Socialist Party, which took 29 percent. Three leftist parties combined — the Socialists, Europe Ecology and Left Front — took just over 47 percent of the vote. The far-right National Front took 11.5 percent, and the centrist MODEM party trailed in last with just over 4 percent.” (03/15/10)