Voters turned out en masse in the early hours of the first round of presidential elections in France, with 31,21% casting their ballots by noon local time on Sunday, daily Le Monde reported.

The comparative figure at the last presidential poll in 2002 was 21,4%, the online edition of the newspaper said, quoting data of the French Interior Ministry.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time in continental France and will close at 6 p.m. in rural regions and 8 p.m. in the big cities.

A dozen candidates are vying for a place in the run-offs, but only four are credited with strong chances.

Centre-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, the former finance and interior minister, running on a platform that focuses on reforming the floundering French social model, cutting taxes and pushing free-market reforms, is the front-runner.

Socialist candidate Segolene Royal is close on his heels, offering to reverse some of the reforms passed during Chirac's two terms in office, as well as raising the minimum wage.

The surprise third is Francois Bayrou, who is trying to break down the traditional bipolar model and bridge the divide between the neo-Gaullists and Socialists with a mix of the two.

Although less likely to make it to the run-offs than the two traditional candidates, according to the polls, he is the only one that could defeat either one if he makes it.

Far-right candidate Jean Marie Le Pen is running for president for a fifth time and still has strong support for his anti-immigration policies, but public opinion surveys suggest he is unlikely to enjoy the same success as last time around, when he made it to the run-offs only to be soundly beaten by the incumbent Chirac.

The outcome is too close to call, with 40% of prospective voters uncertain whom they would vote for as late as Friday, but whoever wins will have usher in wide-ranging changes to revive a stagnating economy.

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