Sarko dans la rue!

As the first round of the French Presidentielles (Presidential Election) kick off today, it's still in the balance as to whether Sego (Segolene Royal - socialist), Sarko (Nicolas Sarkozy - right wing UMP) or Francois Bayrou (who sadly hasn't been in the race long enough to acquire a nickname - centre) will gain the largest share of the French vote.

Media coverage has been reached into every area of French life A Table concocting patriotic menus for each candidate and Elle magazine providing astrological forecasts.

But with temperatures this week in the 20s and the unofficial currency, bottles of Evian, there's an atmosphere in Paris of a welcome holiday from political responsibility...

Find Sego (whose rise to power began in the late 90s when, as education minister, she helped ban the wearing of visible thongs with school uniform) here,

and Sarko here,

Bayrou here,

Alfred Jarry here,

and the very worthy London society of Pataphysics (who memorably staged an exhibition of the artwork of the rebel artist Anthony Aloysius St.John Hancock here.

If you're interested in Jean-Marie le Pen, please go elsewhere...