Centre-right holds off FN in election
UMP-led conservative alliance picks up most votes in first round of departmental elections, as FN trails in third
FRANCE’S main election parties held off a challenge from the far-right Front National (FN) in the first round of departmental elections, which are being seen as an acid test for the Presidential election in 2017.
The conservative alliance, in which former president Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP is the strongest party, took 37.1% of Sunday’s vote, ahead of President Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party and its allies, which picked up a total 28.22%.
Opinion polls in the run up to Sunday’s vote had suggested that Marine Le Pen’s FN could win up to 30% of the overall vote - but figures reveal the anti-EU and anti-immigration party fell short of projections, picking up 25.12% to come in third.
As expected, abstentions were high, with 49.8% of the voting population staying away from the ballot box - although the turnout defied predictions that 60% of the French electorate would not bother to vote.
The results mean that the FN has candidates in nearly 1,100 cantons, including 772 second-round duels, 297 three-way election battles, and one four-way contest.
According to interior ministry figures, Ms Le Pen’s party led the first-round vote in 43 out of 98 departments, which have control over local issues such as school and welfare budgets.
Experts believe, however, that the FN will win control in only a handful of departments after next Sunday’s second-round, with many UMP and PS supporters expected to vote tactically.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls admitted that support for the FN was still “too strong” and abstention levels were too high - but insisted the result was an “honourable score” for the Socialist government.
“Nothing has been decided during this first round vote, and the left must unify,” Mr Valls said, as he appealed for voters to turn out in strength for next Sunday’s second round.
Meanwhile, Mr Sarkozy said that there would be no agreement “either at national or local level” with the FN in areas where the UMP was in a run-off with the PS.
“To those who voted National Front, we understand your frustrations,” he said at party headquarters on Sunday. “But this party will not solve France’s problems – it will only make them worse.”
Ms Le Pen said the strong support for her party sent a clear message to the traditional parties, and that “those who have brought France to its knees will be getting their marching orders”.
