Sarkozy, Hollande face off in May 6 runoff France's incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Arkozy (L) cast their ballots during the first round of the 2012 French presidential election in Paris, France on April 22, 2012. Sarkozy and his main rival Socialist Francois Hollande qualified for the second round with the highest percentage of votes. PARIS, April 23 (UPI) -- French Socialist Francois Hollande Sunday declared victory in the first round of presidential voting and will face incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in a May 6 runoff. France's Interior Ministry confirmed Hollande's victory by 27.9 percent to 26.7 percent with 75 percent of the votes counted, CNN reported. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen's 19.3 percent pushed him out of the running and set up the runoff election between Sarkozy and Hollande when neither of the top two candidates garnered a majority of the 12.5 million votes cast. Hollande is widely expected to win the runoff next month. "I want to thank warmly the voters who, through their votes, have placed me in this position," Hollande told a crowd of supporters in Paris, CNN said. This is an act of trust of confidence in my (positions) that I have presented to the French people. Sarkozy said France is in "a time of crisis" and thanked voters for turning out, saying, "I know (their) worries, and I understand them." Sarkozy challenged Hollande to three debates over the next two weeks, but a Hollande adviser said the Socialist would agree to only one. "There has always been one debate, and there's no need for (that) to change," Aurelie Filippetti told CNN. "The French people have the right to truth and clarity," Sarkozy said. Everyone will be able to make their choice with full knowledge.