Sarkozy denies far-right Marine Le Penn victory in French local elections
- 9 years ago
Setting the conditions in France for a “massive swing back to the right and centre”. That’s the view of centre-right UMP party leader Nicolas Sarkozy as he and his allies won first place in local elections.
They took 32 percent in the first round after voting in 101 departments or counties. Mr Sarkozy ruled out any deals with the far-right National Front party who came second.
Analysts say it is a setback for Marine Le Pen, the party’s leader. The National Front’s progress has stalled, said one. Opinion polls had suggested the party could have done much better after emerging top in last year’s European Parliament elections. This time it polled 25 percent.
“I said quite clearly, 20 percent would be a good result, 25 percent would be a triumph. Because succeeding in achieving the same score in a local election where we didn’t have any incumbents, with the result in the European elections, which were a national ballot, is extraordinary. We had 360,000 more votes than for the Europe
They took 32 percent in the first round after voting in 101 departments or counties. Mr Sarkozy ruled out any deals with the far-right National Front party who came second.
Analysts say it is a setback for Marine Le Pen, the party’s leader. The National Front’s progress has stalled, said one. Opinion polls had suggested the party could have done much better after emerging top in last year’s European Parliament elections. This time it polled 25 percent.
“I said quite clearly, 20 percent would be a good result, 25 percent would be a triumph. Because succeeding in achieving the same score in a local election where we didn’t have any incumbents, with the result in the European elections, which were a national ballot, is extraordinary. We had 360,000 more votes than for the Europe