THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Marine Le Pen's far-Right National Front party has made "historic" gains in the first round of local elections in France, only narrowly trailing Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party.
In what observers called a "severe warning" to the French President, the UMP obtained just over 17 per cent of the vote.
That is less than two per cent more than the National Front (FN), which is enjoying a revival under the leadership of Miss Le Pen, 42, daughter of party founder, Jean-Marie.
In the last such elections in 2008, the FN only mustered five per cent.
Miss Le Pen described the results as "historic" and called on supporters to "reinforce the Marine blue wave" in next Sunday's second round.
The Socialists came way out in front with 25 per cent in round one, which was marred by record abstention levels. A Left-wing party and ecologists were each credited nine and eight per cent of the vote respectively. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, March 21, 2011
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