The Socialist tide is riding high in the French legislative elections but the National Front's Marine Le Pen has claimed victory too.
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The Socialist tide is still riding high as the results from the first round of voting in the French legislative elections that took place on the 10 June, show that Francois Hollande is one step closer to cementing his position and implementing the policies pledged.
The Socialist, Green and left wing are on course to win a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time in a decade, in the final round of elections that take place on 17 June, taking up 46 per cent of the vote in the first round.
The French public are clearly supporting Hollande’s anti-austerity measures and want to be sure he has the opportunity to enact them. The Socialists could even win a majority in the house without their left allies.
However, progressives will be concerned to Marine Le Pen’s Fronte National receiving 14 per cent of the vote, up from 4 per cent in the elections in 2007.
See also:
• Austerity Isn’t Working • Sparpolitik ist keine Lösung • L’austérité ne marche pas: A new social compact for Europe 28 May 2012
• Cameron snubbed Hollande but looks set to give a “generous reception” to Romney 14 May 2012
• Will Presidente Hollande manage to turn France – and the Euro area – around 8 May 2012
•Vive Hollande! M. Normal wins the day 8 May 2012
The left wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced his challenge to Le Pen some weeks ago for the seat in Hénin-Beaumont, but has now admitted defeat in the face of Le Pen gaining almost half of the votes there, with Le Pen stating that this initial result:
“Had confirmed our position as France’s third political force”.
However, the race for this coveted seat is not over yet with the Socialist candidate Philippe Kemel still in the race for Sundays run off. In total in these elections, 6,000 candidates in this election vied to represent 577 seats for five-year terms.
Eleven MPs will represent citizens abroad. After a first round took place on Sunday, a second round of voting will take place in those constituencies that require it next Sunday. A candidate who gains over 50% of the vote in the first round, is elected without the need to enter the second round (as Hollande’s Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was).
If no candidate gains 50 per cent of the vote, candidates with 12.5% of the vote or more go forward to the second round. Turnout in the first round of voting was one of the lowest France has seen at 57 per cent and for the Socialist party and their allies to secure victory they need to get out the vote for the second round
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10 Responses to “National Front resilience haunts probable Left victory in French elections”
BevR
France, Francoise Hollande, Marine Le Pen, Socialists, Europe: http://t.co/H0LjKvIh writes @sanchia46 #Frelections #France
Political Planet
National Front resilience haunts probable Left victory in French elections: The Socialist tide is riding high i… http://t.co/lwlqYFfN
Pulp Ark
National Front resilience haunts probable Left… http://t.co/2yLyKsTV #MultilateralForeignPolicy #Europe #France #muslim #tcot #sioa
leftlinks
Left Foot Forward – National Front resilience haunts probable Left victory in French elections http://t.co/iSkrFaf7
Anonymous
“If no candidate gains 50 per cent of the vote, candidates with 12.5% of the vote or more go forward to the second round.”
The 12.5% is only true for 100% turnout and is adjusted according to turnout. Given the very low turout in this election, candidates needed 19% of the vote to go through to the second round.