France’s far-right National Front party seems to be making gains as expected in the country’s regional elections this Sunday which had a very low voter turnout, according to initial exit polls.
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President Francois Hollande has seen his personal ratings surge as a result of his hardline approach since the attacks, but his Socialist Party has languished behind the FN and the centre-right Republicans.
The grouping of right-wing parties led by The Republicans of former President Nicolas Sarkozy received 27 percent nationally, while the ruling Socialist party and its allies had 23.3 percent. National Front’s charismatic leader Marine Le Pen, for instance, is estimated to come out as the top candidate in the northern Nord-Pas-De-Calais-Picardie region with 40 percent of the vote.
Nor will the Socialists be fielding a candidate in round two down South in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, where Marion Maréchal Le Pen, Marine’s 25-year old niece, clinched a similarly high score. “We shall overcome, and our weapon is our vote”, he said.
The PS has instructed its candidates to withdraw if they are in third place and for supporters to vote tactically to keep out the FN.
It would be the first time the National Front has captured any of France’s regions. The far-right, anti-establishment National Front has ridden a wave of anger over migration and extremist attacks straight into the political mainstream – where experts predict it will stay.
However, Marine Le Pen has worked to undo its image as an anti-Semitic party, and has lured in new followers from the left, the traditional right and among young people.
The victory of the National Front could deeply alter not only the French political landscape, but its relationship to Europe. Otherwise they will go to the second round scheduled for December 13 and have to win at least 10 percent of the votes on Sunday.
The National Front is hoping a strong performance will boost the party’s chance in the 2017 presidential election.
“We are destined to realise the national unity this country needs”, she added, promising to lead voters “on the path to greatness and happiness”.
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Le Pen called on all patriots to back her party in the second round and turn their backs on this political class that deceives them.
