the top two candidates went into the second round. Most supporters of the parties which did not get through to the second round (and Chirac's supporters) voted for Chirac, who won with a very large majority:

* Jacques Chirac (Center-right, Gaullist): 82.21%
* Jean-Marie Le Pen (Far-right, National Front): 17.79%Despite the controversy over Jospin's early elimination, polls showed Chirac was preferred to Jospin by a majority of voters and that Chirac was the majority-preferred candidate,