On the rise: National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen saw his party win almost 12 per cent of the vote in French regional elections
Nicolas Sarkozy has received a drubbing in French regional elections which saw the re-emergence of the far-Right National Front.
The president’s ruling UMP party polled 26 per cent in the first round of voting and the Socialists almost 30 per cent.
But Jean Marie Le Pen’s National Front took almost 12 per cent after being written off during elections in 2007.
Mr Le Pen, 81, said: ‘The National Front was declared beaten, dead, buried by the president. This shows it is still a national force, probably destined to become greater and greater.’
Mr Sarkozy is being partly blamed for the National Front’s success after starting a debate about ‘national identity’ that became swamped by complaints about France’s growing Muslim community.
Socialist leader Martine Aubry said Mr Sarkozy was guilty of ‘reopening a door for the National Front’.
Mr Sarkozy’s popularity is plummeting, with his handling of the economy under fire and voters put off by allegations that he and his wife Carla Bruni are having affairs. The second round of voting is on Sunday.
Socialists leader Martine Aubry said: ‘By this vote the French people have sent a clear and strong message of dissatisfaction to a France that is divided, anguished and weakened.’
And Francois Bayrou, former presidential candidate and head of the centrist MoDem party, said: ‘It’s a worrying moment. The National Front is back at a level not seen in years.’
Despite the FN optimism, the voting figure for the first round of regional elections was just 52 per cent – a record low. The second round will be held on Sunday.
Unpopular: President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni cast their votes. Mr Sarkozy's UMP party polled only 26 per cent of the vote
The Socialists already run 20 of the 22 regions on the French mainland after the last elections in 2004.
The green-minded party Europe Ecologie, riding voter concern about global warming, is expected to align with the Socialists in many regions for the runoff, as will several other leftist parties.
The National Front effectively tied for third-place nationally with Europe Ecologie, both with about 12 per cent of the vote.
‘Europe Ecologie is the third political force,’ in France, said Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a Jewish leader of the party.
Results showed a close race in Alsace, one of the last bastions of the right. The Socialists looked set to keep hold of the Ile-de-France region that includes Paris.
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Sarkozy is half-Jewish and as such he’s obliged to promote multiculturalism and diversity. That’s what most Jews in politics do – dismantling European nations through immigration. Strong and cohesive nations are not useful to Jews, because big organised groups of people may become anti-Semitic and oppose Jews.
It’s the most natural thing for the French people to want to preserve their identity.
There is no such thing as a half jew. Once a child is born of a jew (either one) their blood is tainted with the the genetics of Cain; whose father was the devil.
They are an evil and vile bunch. Sarkozy is a damned Edomite jew. A demon incarnate!
JTJ, I must say that historical lineage you teach is priceless…it all goes back to corupted genetics of Cain…it is so simple, yet insiduous…please do continue teaching us…alles ist klar! Regards, Slobo
12% (percent)still not enough..
bravo, Jean-Marie LePen.
Sarkozy has cheated the French people with his servility to Wallstreet, London banksters – and a pseudo nationalist attitude, but in reality has promoted immigration as his masters told him.. and the French become aware of that.
The other crook is Daniel Cohn-Bendit, “the red Danny” of 1968, who also appears on stage in Germany, as a dual or triple national, to let himself get elected as a Green, that are not the Greens that used to be.
Socialism had made the French people lazy and entitled. Hence, all these immigrants were brought in to do the dirty jobs. But lo, and behold, they want to be Socialists, too. So now your problems are even worse.