Reactions to French presidential election

PARIS (Reuters) - Right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival Segolene Royal will face each other in France's May 6 presidential run-off after they came through a first-round vote on Sunday, television polls said.

Below are comments from politicians on the first-round election result.

SEGOLENE ROYAL

"On May 6 we will have a clear choice between two very different paths. I extend my hand to all those who think like me that it is not only possible but urgent to leave a system that no longer works."

"I invite you to invent a new France, both protecting and dynamic. A fraternal and conquering France that allows each person to build their life and succeed."

"I call tonight for the rallying of all those who identify with the values of the presidential pact and who think that it is possible to reform France without ill-treating it, who want to make human values triumph over stock market valuations, who want to put an end to the insecurity and precariousness that have painfully worsened in recent years... I continue to bet on the intelligence of the French people and I refuse to cultivate fear."

CENTRIST CANDIDATE FRANCOIS BAYROU

"More than 7 million French people came together to support a magnificent idea of change. It is these millions of French people I am thinking of. They made for a magnificent electoral campaign. They shaped a new force, the only new force in French politics."

"They opened a path of hope for France and this path of hope will not stop. There is finally a center in France, a large center, a strong center, an independent center capable of speaking and acting beyond previous borders."

"These millions of French people understood that the old war between two camps no longer dealt with France's ills. I tell you, France's illness is worse than it is thought to be by the two main parties which once again came ahead tonight."

NICOLAS SARKOZY

"Tonight the French nation expressed itself. It expressed itself clearly. After so many ballots marked by rising abstention, the first round of the presidential election is a victory for our democracy."

"By going massively to the polls, the French people expressed their desire to let no one else speak for them by putting me first in this first round."

"By putting Mrs Royal in second place, they clearly marked their wish to go to the end of the debate between two ideas of the nation, two projects for society, two value systems, two concepts of politics."

JACK LANG, ADVISER TO SEGOLENE ROYAL

"It's also the personal victory of Segolene Royal. The French people have discovered a coolheaded and serene personality who tomorrow can be a president who will hold the reins of the state. I am calling for a broad coalition against the representative of the outgoing government."

FRANCOIS FILLON, SARKOZY CAMPAIGN MANAGER

"It's not about crying victory but ... you have to go back to (late President) Georges Pompidou to find a first-round score of this size."

"With that score, an exit from the crisis of confidence of April 21, 2002 (when far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen won through to a presidential election run-off) will be possible if the second round is dignified.

"That is a second round which allows each voter to feel respected, those who are in the second round and the candidates that are not, and allow what was not possible in 2002 -- that is to choose between two visions of society, two concepts of national identity, between two conceptions of doing politics."

FAR-RIGHT LEADER JEAN-MARIE LE PEN

"I thought the French were quite unhappy with the fact that we have 7 million poor people, 14 million poor workers, that we have a trade deficit, that we had a debt of 2,500 billion euros."

"Well, I was wrong. The French are very happy. The proof is that they have just re-elected -- both very comfortably as well and even by a little bit more -- the parties that have been in power and which are responsible for France's situation. I fear this euphoria will not last for a very long time."

PRIME MINISTER DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN IN STATEMENT

"Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is delighted with the excellent score obtained by Nicolas Sarkozy, our political party's candidate. He called Nicolas Sarkozy to give his personal congratulations and to wish him all success in the second round.

"All our political party will be at his side in the next 15 days to support him.

"Dominique de Villepin is also delighted with the very strong turnout in the first round of the presidential election, which reflects the vitality of our democracy."

JEAN-FRANCOIS COPE, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN AND SARKOZY

SUPPORTER

"No, we haven't won yet. There's still a second round to go."

"The other thing I'd like to highlight is that the National Front has collapsed."

LAURENT FABIUS, SOCIALIST FORMER PRIME MINISTER

"I am happy. We must now prepare for the second round."

Asked about the second round: "It's all open."

SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER FRANCOIS HOLLANDE

"Tonight, the French people have won. They have given the best possible lesson in democracy. Segolene Royal scored 10 points more than (then Socialist candidate) Lionel Jospin in 2002, and more than Francois Mitterrand in 1981."