France elections: National Front 'make gains' in regional elections

[truth_seeker]

France elections: National Front 'make gains' in regional elections

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35018849

France's far-right National Front (FN) appears to have made big gains in the first round of regional elections, estimates show.

They showed the FN ahead in at least six of 13 regions in mainland France.

The elections are the first electoral test since last month's Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed.

The centre-right Republicans party led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be in second place ahead of the governing Socialist Party.

Has France's National Front changed?

The far-right's charm offensive

Exit polls from Sunday's vote predicted that the FN had won 30.8% of the vote, followed by Mr Sarkozy's Republicans on 27.2% and President Francois Hollande's Socialists with 22.7%.

FN leader Marine Le Pen, who stood in the northern region of Nord-Pas-De-Calais-Picardie, and her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen, who stood in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in the south, both looked to have won more than 40% of the vote, polls predicted, breaking previous records for the party.

Marine Le Pen said it was a "magnificent result" which proved the FN was "without contest the first party of France".

Sunday's first round will be followed by a run-off on 13 December.

But Mr Sarkozy said there would be no "tactical alliances" in the second round to try to counter the far-right. In previous years, the centre-right opposition and governing Socialist party have worked together to block the FN.

French regions have wide powers over local transport, education and economic development.

In the lead-up to the election, opinion polls suggested that the popularity of the anti-immigration, anti-EU National Front had increased since the attacks on 13 November.

The election has been held under a state of emergency declared after the attacks, which were claimed by Islamic State militants.

snip

[truth_seeker]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35018849

France's far-right National Front (FN) appears to have made big gains in the first round of regional elections, estimates show.

They put the FN ahead in at least six of 13 regions in mainland France.

The elections are the first electoral test since last month's Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed.

The centre-right Republicans party led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared to be in second place ahead of the governing Socialist Party.

A second round of voting will be held on 13 December.

As the results became clear, the Socialist party said it was withdrawing from the second round in at least two regions, in the north and the south, to try to block a run-off victory for the FN.

Has France's National Front changed?

The far-right's charm offensive

Exit polls from Sunday's vote predicted that the FN had won 30.8% of the vote, followed by Mr Sarkozy's Republicans on 27.2% and President Francois Hollande's Socialists with 22.7%.

FN leader Marine Le Pen, who stood in the northern region of Nord-Pas-De-Calais-Picardie, and her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen, who stood in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in the south, both looked to have won more than 40% of the vote, polls predicted, breaking previous records for the party.

Marine Le Pen told supporters it was a "magnificent result" which proved the FN was "without contest the first party of France".

[Oceander]

This will p.o. a lot of the rest of Europe (not sayin' that's good or bad, just sayin').

[truth_seeker]

This will p.o. a lot of the rest of Europe (not sayin' that's good or bad, just sayin').

Immigration is causing several countries in Europe to move rightward.

[Paladin]

Note: "France's far-right National Front (FN)..."
         "As the results became clear, the Socialist party said it was withdrawing from the second round..."

The FN is described as 'far right", but the Socialist party is not described as "far left". Wonder why?

The use of pejoratives such as "far right" is a time tested media method of smearing politicians and political parties  which it disapproves. You never see its opposite "far left" similarly applied, not even to Marxists groups. 

[truth_seeker]

Note: "France's far-right National Front (FN)..."
         "As the results became clear, the Socialist party said it was withdrawing from the second round..."

The FN is described as 'far right", but the Socialist party is not described as "far left". Wonder why?

The use of pejoratives such as "far right" is a time tested media method of smearing politicians and political parties  which it disapproves. You never see its opposite "far left" similarly applied, not even to Marxists groups.

Do you understand why the Socialists are withdrawing? e.g. The substance of the article?

One reason they don't call them "far left is because they call them Socialist" and that suffices in their country, for the understanding necessary.

You should be perhaps heartened that the Socialists came in 3rd of 3 main parties in their multiparty system.

[Scottftlc]

Immigration is causing several countries in Europe to move rightward.

My suspicion is that it will in America as well.

[Paladin]

Do you understand why the Socialists are withdrawing? e.g. The substance of the article?

One reason they don't call them "far left is because they call them Socialist" and that suffices in their country, for the understanding necessary.

You should be perhaps heartened that the Socialists came in 3rd of 3 main parties in their multiparty system.

I was making an entirely different point but thanks for the completely gratuitous lecture

Let's try it this way and then maybe you will get it. Jesse  Helms was always referred to as "right wing" or "extreme right wing". Did you ever see Ted Kennedy called "extreme left wing" or even "left wing"?

[truth_seeker]

I was making an entirely different point but thanks for the completely gratuitous lecture

Let's try it this way and then maybe you will get it. Jesse  Helms was always referred to as "right wing" or "extreme right wing". Did you ever see Ted Kennedy called "extreme left wing" or even "left wing"?

One man's "gratuitous lecture" is another man's "discussion."