As his supporters settled in for a night of jubilant partying, Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledged victory with a sober pledge to unify France and give it a distinctive voice on the world stage.

Flag-waving, flares, furious text-messaging and full-voiced chants of "Nicolas à l'Elysée" made the atmosphere in and outside the Salle Gaveau, a classical music hall used as the venue for his victory celebrations, more like that for a football match than a political soirée.