[autom.vertaling] Bayrou weigert om Sarkozy te steunen of Koninklijk (en)

Centrist politician Francois Bayrou has decided to remain neutral in the French presidential elections, refusing to advise his supporters to vote for either of the leading candidates in the 6 May run-off.

At a highly-anticipated press conference on Wednesday afternoon (24 April), Mr Bayrou, who came third in Sunday's election gaining 18.5 percent of the vote, said that both the centre-right Nicolas Sarkozy and socialist Segolene Royal would only make the country's problems worse.

"I will not give any guidance about how to vote," he said and instead went on to strongly criticise the policies of the two leading candidates.

Mr Sarkozy will "worsen the problem of democracy and social fracture" while Ms Royal will "worsen durably the economic problems," said Mr Bayrou.

"I have worries about both of them" he added.

Directly after the first round of the elections, Mr Bayrou found himself the most sought after politician in France having got almost 7 million votes - although during the campaign it was a different matter.

Just two weeks ago, Mr Sarkozy described him as "the caricature of cynicism and opportunism."

Before Wednesday's press conference, both he and Ms Royal had tried to phone Mr Bayrou, but the centrist politician said he has spoken to neither of them.

The two politicians are courting Mr Bayrou's voters, with Ms Royal in greater need of the support because the total votes for the right in Sunday's election was much higher than the combined vote on the left.

However, a poll since the election has shown that Ms Royal is gaining on Mr Sarkozy, who came through as the victor with 31.1 percent of the vote in the first round.

According to the poll published by TNS-Sofres Institute on Tuesday, Ms Royal got 49 percent support compared to Mr Sarkozy's 51 percent.

For his part, Mr Bayrou is sticking to the centrist ground, announcing that he is founding a new social democrat party called the "Democratic Party," which is to act as a "counterforce" to whoever is elected as president next month.