Reuters have confirmed that Marine Le Pen has won the first round of voting in the town of Hénin-Beaumont by taking 42% of the vote. As she has not won more than 50% there will be a second ballot next Sunday, so victory is not yet in her grasp. Her arch-opponent Jean-Luc Melanchon came third, and has thus announced that he will not be standing next week, recommending instead that his supporters vote for the Socialist candidate Phillipe Kemel. When the Front National looked as if they would win the mayoralty of the town in 2009 by securing 39% in the first round, all other candidates bar one stood down and recommended that their supporters vote in favour of the one remaining opponent. Melanchon's decision to stand aside indicates that this tactic is about to be repeated, but can Le Pen win anyway, for she is after all starting at a higher baseline of support than in the mayoral election? The contest in the town looks set to have a nailbiting finish.
Background on the race, including information on a rather controversial
flyer campaign, can be accessed by clicking here.
UPDATE
Across France as a whole, the Front National took the third largest share of the vote. Marine Le Pen's niece - Marion Le Pen - managed to top the poll with 34% in Vauclause, and thus will also enter next Sunday's runoff. The GalliaWatch blog reports that the Front National has made it into the second round in 61 of the 577 constituencies, rather less than its high watermark of 133 in 1997.
UPDATE
Across France as a whole, the Front National took the third largest share of the vote. Marine Le Pen's niece - Marion Le Pen - managed to top the poll with 34% in Vauclause, and thus will also enter next Sunday's runoff. The GalliaWatch blog reports that the Front National has made it into the second round in 61 of the 577 constituencies, rather less than its high watermark of 133 in 1997.
Marion Le Pen - First in Vauclause
Le Pen is mightier than the sword!
ReplyDeleteATB Laurie -
Oh that's a top pun Laurie!
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteSorry to use this to contact, but not much seems to be happening on Nationalistunityforum. Read your announcement about a new party and the thoughts behind it. For me there seems to be no party to join to try to halt what is happening to our country and things are getting desperate. Look what's happening to Emma west. Are you going to try to start one? I usually post as Constip on natioanalist unity.
Hello Constip. Thanks for getting in touch. Preparations are being made for the party launch and further information will be forthcoming on this blog in due course. If you would like to become involved, please leave your email address in the comments section and I will be in touch. As blogger preview does not allow me to see the entirety of a comment before publishing, please mark "Not for Publication."
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