France’s options are no longer as simple as left and right.
Advertisement
The National Front’s victory isn’t yet secure.
Le Pen described the result as “magnificent”, and emphasized that her party is dedicated to “the preservation of our way of life”, a reference to the massive influx of migrants to France.
President Francois Hollande, who cast his vote in Tulle in central France, has seen his personal ratings surge as a result of his hardline approach since the November 13 Paris attacks.
A row has erupted within Mr Sarkozy’s party over whether his decision to take a hard-Right line had simply increased the far-Right vote or spared his party even further humiliation.
Marine Le Pen (R) and her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen won more than 40% of the votes in their respective northern and southern regions of France.
Nicolas Sarkozy, eager to distance himself both from the Socialists and the National Front, ruled out such a move for his party’s candidates who came third, sparking divisions inside his own ranks, according to Le Parisien.
“We must stop subsidizing the reception of migrants, we must defend our local artisans”, Philippot said to French satellite channel BFM TV.
The National Front has for decades called for reduced immigration and for France to retake control of its borders as well as its currency.
The party were criticised over an election poster imploring voters to “Choose Your Suburb”, accompanied by a picture of a veiled woman, and an unveiled woman with the French tricolore painted on her cheeks.
The regional vote was the first electoral test for Hollande since the Paris attacks that killed 130 and prompted his attempts to marshal a united front against Islamic State.
Jean-Marie was booted out of the National Front (FN) he founded by his own daughter in late August after a series of anti-Semitic and racist remarks that were deemed too damaging the party’s image.
Front National’s divisive anti-immigration, socially conservative, anti-Schengen platform has been pulling in new voters since the attacks, while continuing to spark criticism and allegations of xenophobia and racism.
Jean-Marie Le Pen has been several times convicted for racism and anti-Semitism.
“We are incontestably in a country that has a flawless tri-party system”.
But any election triumph will depend on whether the other parties are able to forge alliances against it.
Far-right parties have made inroads across Europe in recent years, from Greece to Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands and elsewhere.
The next presidential elections in France are in 2017.
“Standing together and solidarity in Europe are now more important than ever, including in dealing with the question of refugees”, Gabriel was quoted as telling the Bild newspaper.
“French people have had enough – in one election after another, they have shown their confidence in the National Front”, she said.
Advertisement
The National Front’s strong performance has deeper roots.
