Disappointment for Front National
Only two seats gained out 10-50 hoped for by Marine Le Pen as low turnout persists
THE Front National has suffered disappointing results, winning just two council seats out of a potential 10-50 hoped for by its leader, Marine Le Pen.
However, the number of votes cast for the far-right party rose significantly, 900,000 in the second round, compared to 620,000 in the first, although overall its support dropped when compared to other parties.
In percentage terms, the Parti Socialiste received 36.2, the UMP 18.6, the FN 11.6, various right-wing parties 11.8 and various left-wing parties 5.8.
Voting in the second round of cantonal elections saw the Socialist Party win 625 seats and the UMP 241; a further 430 seats were won by other parties.
The turnout of 45 per cent was similar to last weekend's record low.
To tackle low turnout, France should group together its various local votes and hold them on the same day, said the leader of the Corrèze conseil general, François Hollande.
Two national polls have given a boost to the future election prospects of the Front National.
The first, by BVA-Absoluce for Les Echos and radio France Info, show that 52 per cent of voters believe the Front National is "a party like the others" – the first time a majority has said yes to such a question.
The second, by Ipsos for France Télévisions, shows Marine Le Pen would knock Nicolas Sarkozy out of the race for president in almost all viable election scenarios.
The only Socialist candidate who would fall into third place in a presidential election, allowing Sarkozy through to face Le Pen in the second round, is Ségolène Royal.
Photo: Danielle Bonardelle - Fotolia.com
