(CNN) -- It has been 17 years since France had a president from the left, but that might be about to change. Francois Hollande, a candidate from the center-left Socialist Party, has significant momentum after edging center-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the first round of France's presidential election on Sunday. If he wins a May 6 runoff against Sarkozy, Hollande would be the first left-wing president since Francois Mitterrand in 1995. Sarkozy is seeking his second five-year term, following Jacques Chirac, who served 12 years in office. Sarkozy received 27.2% of the vote in the first round of voting on Sunday, just behind Hollande's 28.6%.
@highlight
France's presidential election is set for a runoff to take place on Sunday, May 6
@highlight
Incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy finished behind Francois Hollande in the first round
@highlight
A couple of extreme candidates, one far left and one far right, could still affect the outcome
@highlight
Unemployment is the biggest issue in the race, but immigration and debt are also talking points
"Even though some people would give @placeholder high marks for doing the kinds of things that might have a positive long-term effect on the economy -- like raising the retirement age to put the system on sounder fiscal footing -- he hasn't been successful in bringing jobs back," Leruth said.