Three's a crowd

France | A trio of French candidates vie for power, but none would bring the major reforms needed | Priya Abraham

As official campaigning for what the French call la Présidentielle began a day after Easter, polls showed more than 40 percent of voters undecided. The race is close between the top three: Nicholas Sarkozy on the right, Ségolène Royal on the left, and surprise latecomer François Bayrou in the center.

The April 22 vote will likely lead to a May run-off. Issues dominating the race include immigration and unemployment, which is 10 percent countrywide but more than double that among restive youths. Sarkozy has the best ideas, but none of the three candidates would reform France dramatically, says Sally McNamara, a European affairs analyst at the Heritage Foundation.

On the economy and France's slipping world influence, McNamara says, "There's a lack of realization about how bad things are and how badly things need to be turned around. . . . The (French) want job security, not employment security." So far, lively personalities have overshadowed issues during the campaign.