Compared with the last regional election six years ago, much more voters preferred staying at home than showing their power to reshape regional councilors.

Latest data presented that the participation rate reached 50.5 percent in the runoff, higher than the historical low of 46 percent in the first round but still well below the record-high 65 percent in the 2004 regional election.

This regional election, the last massive one before 2012 presidential election, is widely regarded as a referendum and opinion test for Sarkozy's administration, as it occurred at the mid-term of his presidency and 19 ministers are standing for election.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy casts his ballot at a Paris polling station in the second round of regional elections March 21, 2010. Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party is due to face heavy losses in regional elections on Sunday that could affect the pace of reform as manoeuvring begins before the 2012 presidential campaign.[Xinhua]

Two days before Sunday runoff, French pollster BVA reflected in a survey that 57 percent people held a view that the UMP should reshuffle the cabinet and 37 percent even suggested to change the prime minister.

Although Sarkozy ruled out cabinet reshuffle before the election, "modest" and "technical" modification to formation of ministers was confirmed by President's General Secretary Claude Gueant during an exclusive interview published by French newspaper Le Croix on Saturday.

Actually, right after the initial result emerged, the Elysee Palace said that the president would summon Prime Minister Francois Fillon Monday around 9:00 a.m. to assess the results of the regional election.

Socialist leader Martine hailed the "unprecedented victory for the left," attributing righ-wing's loss to public's anger towards current ruling of the president and central government.

However, regional councils' function focuses on local development such as schools building, local transport renovation, and Sarkozy still has half way to go to test his national reform, thus it seems a little early to answer to what extent the left parties can use the regional victory to challenge Sarkozy.