France's far-right Front Nationale wins first round of regional elections
- 8 years ago
The far-right Front Nationale has, according to exit polls, come top in the first round of voting in France’s regional elections. The result represents a national breakthrough for Marine Le Pen’s xenophobic, anti-EU party.
A map showing the result is available here.
The FN won 30.6% of the vote, with the conservatives trailing on 27%, and the governing Socialists down to 22.7%.
Le Pen got 43% in the Nord-Pas de Calais region and her niece, Marion Marechal Le Pen 41% in the south-east. These two regions could fall to the FN in the December 13 second round. The FN is also in first place in four other regions, so top in six out of 13.
“This vote confirms what previous elections have predicted already but what official observers wouldn’t yet admit: the FN is now without a doubt the first party in France while it is, let’s not forget, barely present in parliament,” said Marine Le Pen, welcoming the exit polls.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy had been hoping his conservatives woul
A map showing the result is available here.
The FN won 30.6% of the vote, with the conservatives trailing on 27%, and the governing Socialists down to 22.7%.
Le Pen got 43% in the Nord-Pas de Calais region and her niece, Marion Marechal Le Pen 41% in the south-east. These two regions could fall to the FN in the December 13 second round. The FN is also in first place in four other regions, so top in six out of 13.
“This vote confirms what previous elections have predicted already but what official observers wouldn’t yet admit: the FN is now without a doubt the first party in France while it is, let’s not forget, barely present in parliament,” said Marine Le Pen, welcoming the exit polls.
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy had been hoping his conservatives woul