France's far right scores stunning victory in first vote since attacks - News Agencies and Israel Hayom staff

by News Agencies and Israel Hayom staff

National Front party capitalizes on post-Paris attacks atmosphere, wins six of 13 regions • French pundits say results prove it "is no longer a pariah party" • Marine Le Pen still faces uphill battle against Socialists, Republicans in next Sunday's vote.

Front National head Marine Le Pen speaks to supporters after results of the first round of the regional elections were announced, Sunday | Photo credit: EPA

France's far-right Front National (National Front) party has been able to propel the sense of outrage over the Paris attacks into a stunning electoral win in Sunday's opening round of regional elections. 

Exit polls showed that Marine Le Pen's party has secured six of 13 regions, a historic first, leading French media to declare that the party, often accused of fear-mongering and promoting xenophobia, is "no longer a pariah party," and that its victory has turned the French political landscape upside down.

Exit polls showed Front National with some 30% of the votes and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Republicans with 27% of the votes, while President Francois Hollande's Socialists were relegated to third place, with 23% of the ballots. According to France 24 News, voting took place under tight security, the election clouded by the wariness left in the wake of the gruesome Nov. 13 attacks that left 130 people dead.

Commenting on the results, Le Pen said they showed that her party was now the "biggest single political party in France. It is a magnificent result that we will treat with humility and a profound sense of responsibility. We are without question the first party of France. We have the vocation to achieve the national unity that the country requires."

British media described the results as a "political earthquake" that may have "ominous implications" for the resurgence of the far Right across Europe, The Telegraph said.

According to the Guardian, "The spectacular showing is the highest ever performance for the anti-immigration, anti-European party and, if it maintains the strong lead in next week's second round, it could reshape France's political landscape."

Nevertheless, Front National still faces an uphill battle against the Socialists and the Republicans in second vote, set for Dec. 13. 

"Whether FN can transform its first-round score into winning control of regions depends in part on how far other parties are prepared to team up to stop the far right," the Guardian said.

Controversy over France's immigration policies and the fear inspired in the wake of the Paris attacks are believed to be key contributing factors to the far-right party's victory. France is home to the largest Muslim community in Western Europe, and just last week Le Pen remarked that if the FN fails, "Islamist totalitarianism will take power in our country."

Should Le Pen win next Sunday's vote, it will give her a springboard to a presidential bid in 2017. Political pundits believe her chances of becoming president remain slim, as all polls suggest that while Le Pen is likely to reach a two-candidate run-off in May 2017, she has no chance of assembling 50% of French voters in the second round of a presidential poll.

News Agencies and Israel Hayom staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=30231

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