FN loses election in Pas-de-Calais

THE FRONT National has lost a crucial town council election.

The far right-wing party was hoping to take its first town council in more than a decade in the elections at Hénin-Beaumont in Pas-de-Calais.

The party was expecting victory after it won in a first round of voting, but in the second round left-winger Daniel Duquenne beat Steeve Briois with 52% after all the main parties, including the UMP, called on voters to support him in what was described as a “Republican Front.”

Mr Duquenne was attacked with teargas by unknown parties during celebrations after the victory.

The atmosphere was tense in the town in the lead-up to the election, with supporters of Duquenne organising street rallies. The actor Dany Boon, best-known for the film Bienvenu chez les Ch’tis, set in the Pas-de-Calais, also urged people not to vote for the FN.

The left had suffered a setback in the town after the previous, Socialist, mayor was charged with embezzlement in April.

FN vice president Marine le Pen, who was number two on the party’s list for the elections, accused the left of underhand tactics. She said they told voters the commune would be blacklisted for funding by the left-wing regional and departmental councils if the FN won. “The so-called Republican Front only just beat us – a new Front National has been born,” she said.

Le Pen condemned the teargas attack, but added her own party office was attacked by a Molotov cocktail two days previously.

Photo: Manu le Manu