For the first time, Nicolas Sarkozy is ahead of his Socialist rival François Hollande in the pre-election polls....

For the first time, current president Sarkozy has passed rival Hollande in the polls. Photo credits: Le Figaro and AP

NEWS FLASH – For the first time, Nicolas Sarkozy is ahead of his Socialist rival François Hollande in the pre-election polls.

 According to an Ifop poll done for Europe 1, Paris Match and the Public Senate that was released this morning, the current president will earn 28.5% of votes in the first round of French elections. Hollande is expected to earn just 27%.

Hollande is still expected to win the ultimate round of the elections by earning 54.5% of votes versus Sarkozy’s 45.5%.

The poll is a warning for the Socialist party. On their Twitter accounts, numerous Socialists called on voters and party members to rally for the cause.

“The election has not played out yet,” tweeted Manuel Valls, Hollande’s director of communication. “Sarkozy will fight until the end.”