Story highlights Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe are in a runoff for the presidential nomination of the Republican partyFormer President Nicolas Sarkozy came in third, which ended a political comeback attempt(CNN) France's first Republican presidential primary has ended in a surprising runoff between two former prime ministers and halted a political comeback by former President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy came in third in the field of seven vying for the nomination for France's center-right party. The shock winner was Francois Fillon, who staged a remarkable late surge to win the vote. He'll contest Alain Juppe in a second-round vote for the party's nomination on November 27. It's assumed the winner will be the one to contest the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen, for the presidency.

Source: CNN November 20, 2016 23:37 UTC