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Marine Le Pen and the Front National take France by storm
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The Front National made considerable headway in local elections in France on Sunday. The far-right party obtained around 5% of the vote nationwide and has good chances of its candidates becoming mayor in several cities in the run-up vote. Some see the results as a slap in the face for the government. Others warn that FN leader Marine Le Pen's success in the provinces should not be overrated.
The Front National made considerable headway in local elections in France on Sunday. The far-right party obtained around five percent of the vote nationwide and has good chances of its candidates becoming mayor in several cities in the run-up vote. Some commentators see the results as a slap in the face for the government. Others warn that FN leader Marine Le Pen's success in the provinces should not be overrated.
Le Figaro, France: A slap in the face for Paris
In the run-up to the local elections, some members of the Socialist government expressed hopes that above all voters on the right would stay away from the polls. But they had another thing coming, the conservative daily Le Figaro writes, seeing the election results as a rap on the knuckles for President Hollande: "We were told that a micro-climate prevailed in 36,000 municipalities that would protect the Socialists from the winds of deception and anger that are sweeping the country. We were told that the voters on the right, discouraged by affairs and leadership battles, would prefer to stay at home. ... Think again! Once again, the prophets with rose-coloured glasses were gravely mistaken. Yesterday once again confirmed the rule according to which elections during a president's term of office give voters the chance to express their discontent. ... This is harsh punishment, and a clear disavowal for the governing majority."
Article published 24/03/2014
La Liberté, Switzerland: No historical results for the Front National
The far right Front National is expected to have won the mayoral race in several of France's smaller cities, like Perpignan or Avignon in the south. But it's the big cities that make the difference in French politics, the regional paper La Liberté writes: "The 'navy blue wave' [in French: 'vague bleu marine', the election slogan which plays on the name of FN leader Marine Le Pen] has proved efficient. This is the fruit of a long-term strategy. A conquest that was prepared patiently, by means of a solid local presence. ... However outside the election periods, the French only have eyes for pretty girls like Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille or Bordeaux. This is where national politics is played out, and here the big players from the [socialist] PS and the [conservative] UMP still rule undivided. Only when the FN manages to snatch one of these crown jewels will a page of history really have been turned."
Article published 24/03/2014
Corriere della Sera, Italy: Dangerous mix of populism and abstention
The success of the Front National and the high level of abstention don't bode at all well for the European elections, the conservative daily Corriere della Sera fears: "As has been the case in other decisive moments in recent history, the storm that will hit all Europe is brewing in France. ... It testifies to a mood of populist embitterment, rejection of government policy and fear of Europe which on top of everything else has been reinforced by a record level of abstention. When almost 40 percent of the population doesn't participate in the election of their mayor, it is an indication that the disease is severe and could infect other countries, since its germs have already spread to other European societies. A few weeks before the European elections take place it will be difficult to counter the emotional impact and media hype emanating from the French municipalities."
Article published 24/03/2014