PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of Nicolas Sarkozy have every reason to celebrate as the French presidential hopeful, representing the ruling right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), is enjoying a clear lead over his arch rival Segolene Royal of the left-wing Socialist Party, in the latest opinion polls.

    According to a TNS Sofres survey published Friday, the last day for official campaigning ahead of Sunday's run-off vote, 54.5 percent of voters say they would choose Sarkozy as their new president, while 45.5 percent say they would support Royal. Meanwhile, an IPSOS poll put Sarkozy at 54 percent against 46 percent for Royal.

    The two presidential candidates enter the run-off after finishing first and second in the April 22 first-round vote, with Sarkozy winning 31.2 percent of the vote and Royal 25.9 percent.

    Born on Jan. 28, 1955 in Paris, Sarkozy is the son of a Hungarian immigrant and a French mother.

    He became a lawyer after passing his bar exams and had previously obtained a bachelor's degree in law from the Universite Paris X Nanterre.

    Sarkozy entered politics in 1977 when he was just 22 years old, first becoming a councilor and then mayor of the town of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris.

    He was appointed interior minister by President Jacques Chirac in the cabinet of Jean-Pierre Raffarin although he betrayed Chirac in the 1995 presidential elections.

    He later became finance minister, but was appointed interior minister for a second time in June 2005, a post he held until last March.

    Since November 2004, he has been president of the UMP.

    Nicknamed "the Ark," Sarkozy is known for his toughness as interior minister, who is responsible for law enforcement.

    During campaigning, Sarkozy promised labor market flexibility, strict controls on immigration, and a return to French values. He is also known for his admiration of the United States.

    Sarkozy is married to Cecilia Sarkozy and they have a son.