{"id":2472,"date":"2021-06-28T02:30:35","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T02:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amnewsworld.com\/?p=2472"},"modified":"2021-06-28T02:30:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T02:30:35","slug":"france-le-pens-far-right-party-set-for-election-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amnewsworld.com\/fi\/france-le-pens-far-right-party-set-for-election-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"France: Le Pen’s far-right party set for election loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exit polls are indicating France’s mainstream parties are headed for a comfortable victory over far-right National Rally in the regional election runoff.<\/strong><\/p>\n

France’s far-right National Rally failed to win a single region in elections on Sunday, according to exit polls.<\/p>\n

If confirmed by the final results, it would represent a blow to Marine Le Pen’s hopes of securing the presidency next year.<\/p>\n

The Ifop polling agency said the National Rally, formerly known as the National Front, just edged over 20% of the second-round vote nationally, which was hit once again by poor turnout of an estimated 35%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She later hit out at mainstream parties for doing deals to keep her party out of power.<\/p>\n

“This evening we won’t win in any region because incumbents entered into unnatural alliances and did all they could to keep us out and prevent us from showing the French our capacity to lead a regional administration,” Le Pen told supporters.<\/p>\n

Hopes of Provence win appear to be dashed<\/h2>\n

The National Rally had hoped to win in the southern Mediterranean\u00a0region of Provence-Alpes-C\u00f4te-d\u2019Azur (PACA).<\/p>\n

Thierry Mariani, a high-profile defector from the conservative Republicans party, had been\u00a0hotly tipped to come out on top.<\/p>\n

The French MEP served as a minister under former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.<\/p>\n

But broadcaster France 2 reported that he won just 42% in the second round, losing out to the center-right candidate, Renaud Muselier.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0broadcaster cited projections by the Ipsos\/Sopra Steria polling institute.<\/p>\n

Le Pen, who\u00a0quit the party leadership last year to focus on the race for the Elysee, has been trying to reshape its image amid accusations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the past.<\/p>\n

The 52-year-old lost four years ago to current French president, Emmanuel Macron. The pair are predicted to go head-to-head again next year.<\/p>\n

How did President Macron’s party perform?<\/h4>\n

As many as 13 mainland French regions were up for grabs, as well as seats in\u00a096 departments.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/a>A\u00a0poll cited by the French AFP news agency projected that just 36% of voters planned to cast their ballots on Sunday<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

President Macron’s Republic on the Move (LREM) was projected to remain in the single digits, which means the centrist group will likely not win a single region across France.<\/p>\n

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal called the results “a “disappointment”\u2002in an interview with France 2.<\/p>\n

\"Emmanuel <\/a>Macron’s ruling party was\u00a0not projected to win any of the regions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Observers say the regional vote could shift the balance between political heavyweights vying for a position in the 2022 presidential race.<\/p>\n

But last week’s polls prompted cross-party concern over low turnout, with less than 34% of voters casting their ballot.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, the numbers were also low.\u00a0By 5 p.m, local time (1500 UTC), turnout nationwide was 27.89%, according the country’s interior ministry. Polls officially closed at 8 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n

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