Francois Bayrou, who took the third spot in Sunday's first round of presidential elections in France, could yet be the decisive factor in the run-off.

Running on a centrist platform that sought to bridge the traditional divide between the conservative neo-Gaullists on the right and the Socialist left, he won 18% on Sunday.

While that was not enough to force a face-off with either the right's Nikolas Sarkozy (31%) or the left's Segolene Royal (26%), his endorsement of either of the two could prove decisive.

As things stand, with Bayrou silent, Sarkozy is expected to edge Royal in the run-offs by several percent, polls show.

Sarkozy will hope that additional support from Bayrou will reinforce his standing and given Bayrou's previous ties to the right and his stints as minister in several centre-right cabinets will sway him.

But Royal, who has refused an alliance with Bayrou during the campaign that preceded the first round of voting, has opened the door for talks on Monday, drawing sharp criticism from the opposing camp for "betraying her beliefs."

Bayrou could throw his support behind either of the two remaining candidates as early as Wednesday, when he is expected to hold a press conference.

The run-offs are scheduled for May 6.

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