Marine and Marion consolidate their success and the Front National becomes the leading party in France. At the close of the polls in the French regional elections, the far right of Marine Le Pen, in which the Catholic niece Marion Maréchal-Le Pen also excels, nearly 30% of the votes against 26,5% of the Républicains of Nicolas Sarkozy and 23% of President François Hollande's socialists. The turnout at 19 pm was given an increase of 50,5%.
The swerve to the right is therefore in line with all the predictions that indicated the mood of the French driven by the two leaders of the FN after the tragic terrorist attacks of 13 November in Paris. Voting took place in 13 Regions, for the first time after the reform which reduced the number from 22 to 13 precisely. 44,6 million citizens called to the polls, half of whom - according to the polls - would therefore have abstained. Voters must elect 1.757 regional councilors and 153 territorial councilors (Corsica, Guyana and Martinique) choosing them from 21.456 candidates from 171 lists. The ballot is scheduled for next Sunday, 13 December.
Initial projections give the Fn the lead in six out of 13 regions with Marine and Marion Le Pen who could become the first presidents of far-right regions, in Nord-Pas de Calais and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur respectively. Francois Hollande's socialists are more backward, despite the president's recovery in popularity. Hollande voted mid-morning in Tulle.
