Vote blunts rise of France's far-right National Front

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Vote blunts rise of France's far-right National Front
By LORI HINNANT, Associated Press | March 22, 2015 | Updated: March 22, 2015 3:10pm

PARIS (AP) — France's governing Socialists never expected to do well in Sunday's first-round elections, and their strategy worked just as planned: Their conservative rivals took first place.

Before the elections for 2,000 local councils, the Socialists urged people to vote, hoping that turnout would blunt the rise of Marine Le Pen's far right National Front, even if it meant Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP would be the victor.

Initial projections gave the UMP party 31 percent of the vote compared with 24.5 percent for the National Front and 19.7 percent for the Socialists and their allies. Turnout was 51 percent, compared with about 45 percent in the same elections in 2011.

With little air of a man in third place, Prime Minister Manuel Valls was the first to praise the far right party's defeat.
"This evening, the extreme right, even it is too high, is not at the forefront of French politics," Valls said. "When we mobilize the French, it works."


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Polls-favor-France-s-National-Front-for-council-6150993.php

[Mass]

1. Not good at all, but this is a low participation election (and has always been)

In fact, the right has 36.5 %, the left 35,8 % and the FN 26 %.

http://election-departementale.linternaute.com/

En voix, sur environ 70% des votants, le bloc droite obtenait environ 36,5% des voix, le bloc gauche 35,8% et le FN 26% des voix.]

[mylye2222]

2. Merci Mass.

To have posted this.
Im quote sad either as FN is on second tour in a lot of cantons.

[dariomax]

3. The Right has dwindled in South America lately as well

The world doesn't like the right.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. But the American South is making up the difference

[appalachiablue]

5. What about Brazil?