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| Far-Right Party Stirs Municipal Elections in France | Far-Right Party Stirs Municipal Elections in France |
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| PARIS — The far right National Front party was poised to make a strong showing in the first round of French municipal elections held on Sunday, showing that the party is thriving on France’s moribund economy and broad dissatisfaction with the two main parties. | PARIS — The far right National Front party was poised to make a strong showing in the first round of French municipal elections held on Sunday, showing that the party is thriving on France’s moribund economy and broad dissatisfaction with the two main parties. |
| It remains unclear whether these results will translate into the National Front’s control of more than a couple of cities, though that would still be a gain because it currently does not control any. Under France’s election system, a second round will be held next Sunday in all races except those in which a candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in Sunday’s balloting. | It remains unclear whether these results will translate into the National Front’s control of more than a couple of cities, though that would still be a gain because it currently does not control any. Under France’s election system, a second round will be held next Sunday in all races except those in which a candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in Sunday’s balloting. |
| By late Sunday, preliminary results were available from the Interior Ministry for many departments in France, but not for its most populous cities where vote counting was still underway. Even in places where there was not yet an official result and only exit polling was available, the two main parties did not dispute that the National Front had generally done better than expected. | By late Sunday, preliminary results were available from the Interior Ministry for many departments in France, but not for its most populous cities where vote counting was still underway. Even in places where there was not yet an official result and only exit polling was available, the two main parties did not dispute that the National Front had generally done better than expected. |
| Corinne Narassiguin, the national secretary of the governing Socialist Party, said on France 24, a news channel, that it “was not surprising” that the leading party would lose seats “in what is essentially a midterm election.” President François Hollande is the Socialist Party’s standard-bearer. | Corinne Narassiguin, the national secretary of the governing Socialist Party, said on France 24, a news channel, that it “was not surprising” that the leading party would lose seats “in what is essentially a midterm election.” President François Hollande is the Socialist Party’s standard-bearer. |
| In the Paris mayoral race, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the more conservative candidate who represents the Union for a Popular Movement party, was leading narrowly, though neither she nor Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist Party candidate, were close to 50 percent and not all the votes had been counted. | In the Paris mayoral race, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the more conservative candidate who represents the Union for a Popular Movement party, was leading narrowly, though neither she nor Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist Party candidate, were close to 50 percent and not all the votes had been counted. |
| Both have promised to clean up Parisian pollution, improve the urban environment with parks and recreation centers and make the city more secure. Ms. Hidalgo is strongly supported by the Socialist Party and a network of unions, while Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet is something of a renegade within her party, trying to push it toward the center. | Both have promised to clean up Parisian pollution, improve the urban environment with parks and recreation centers and make the city more secure. Ms. Hidalgo is strongly supported by the Socialist Party and a network of unions, while Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet is something of a renegade within her party, trying to push it toward the center. |
| Nationwide, the results of the first round were seen as a barometer of French voters’ displeasure with the two main parties. Mr. Hollande, in particular, is the most unpopular of any French president in 30 years, while the U.M.P. was previously led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is now embroiled in scandals along with several other prominent party members, including the Popular Movement’s current leader. | Nationwide, the results of the first round were seen as a barometer of French voters’ displeasure with the two main parties. Mr. Hollande, in particular, is the most unpopular of any French president in 30 years, while the U.M.P. was previously led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is now embroiled in scandals along with several other prominent party members, including the Popular Movement’s current leader. |
| Nonetheless the U.M.P. won control or was leading in several cities of more than 100,000 while the Socialist Party was losing in several former strongholds. | Nonetheless the U.M.P. won control or was leading in several cities of more than 100,000 while the Socialist Party was losing in several former strongholds. |
| Although the National Front did far better than in the past, it still won support from a small percentage of the total electorate — pollsters estimated 7 percent in this election. | Although the National Front did far better than in the past, it still won support from a small percentage of the total electorate — pollsters estimated 7 percent in this election. |
| Voting turnout in early estimates hovered around 61 percent, a slip from the roughly 65 percent turnout in the 2008 municipal elections, according to exit poll estimates. The low turnout appeared to be a major factor benefiting the National Front, whose voters are more energized and engaged than those of the mainstream parties. | Voting turnout in early estimates hovered around 61 percent, a slip from the roughly 65 percent turnout in the 2008 municipal elections, according to exit poll estimates. The low turnout appeared to be a major factor benefiting the National Front, whose voters are more energized and engaged than those of the mainstream parties. |
| Late Sunday, National Front candidates were leading in a half dozen medium-sized cities of more than 10,000, mostly in the south, and winning outright in Hénin-Beaumont in northern France, the home of Marine Le Pen, the party’s leader. | |
| “This is the end of the two party nature of politics in France,” said Ms. Le Pen on TF 1, a private television channel. Support for the National Front showed that it “was emerging as a great autonomous force, not just nationally but locally,” she said. | “This is the end of the two party nature of politics in France,” said Ms. Le Pen on TF 1, a private television channel. Support for the National Front showed that it “was emerging as a great autonomous force, not just nationally but locally,” she said. |