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French far right National Front 'routed' in key vote. French far right National Front 'routed' in key vote
(35 minutes later)
France's far-right National Front (FN) has been beaten into third place in the second round of regional elections, exit polls indicate. France's far-right National Front (FN) has failed to win a single region in the second round of elections, exit polls indicate.
Early results suggest the party failed to win a single region, despite leading in six of 13 regions in the first round of votes a week ago. Early results suggest the party was beaten into third place, despite leading in six of 13 regions in the first round of votes a week ago.
The polls suggest Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right Republican party is in the lead, ahead of the ruling Socialists. The polls predict Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right Republicans will win most seats ahead of the ruling Socialists.
FN leader Marine Le Pen and her niece were both candidates. Acknowledging defeat, Ms Le Pen pledged to keep fighting.
Early projections suggest both have failed to be elected, even though they had both looked to have won more than 40% of the vote in the first round. "Nothing can stop us. Long live the French Republic! Long live the nation! Long live France!" she told her supporters.
After the first round results, the Socialist Party had withdrawn its candidates from the northern region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie where Ms Le Pen was standing, and in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur in the south where Marion Marechal-Le Pen was standing, in order to shore up the vote against the FN.
One poll suggested Ms Le Pen secured 42.5% in the second round against the centre-right's 57.5%.
Xavier Bertrand, who is leading in Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, said the French had given "a lesson of rallying together, courage. Here we stopped the progression of the Front National."
The Socialists had withdrawn from the second round in the region to avoid splitting the vote against the FN.
But Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls was less upbeat. He warned the "danger posed by the far right has not gone away, far from it."
The far right's charm offensiveThe far right's charm offensive
Marine Le Pen: Taking French National Front to new highs and lowsMarine Le Pen: Taking French National Front to new highs and lows
Marine Le Pen stood as a candidate in the northern region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie. Her niece Marion Marechal-Le Pen was standing in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, in the south.
After both secured more than 40% of the vote in the first round, the trailing Socialist candidates in those regions pulled out to shore up the vote against the FN for the second round.
One poll suggested Ms Le Pen secured 42.5% in the second round in her region, against the centre-right's 57.5%.
'Rallying together'
Xavier Bertrand, who is leading in Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie, said the French had given "a lesson of rallying together, courage. Here we stopped the progression of the National Front."
But Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls was less upbeat. He warned the "danger posed by the far right has not gone away, far from it."
And Mr Sarkozy said now was the time "for in-depth debates about what worries the French, who expect strong and precise answers".
French regions have wide powers over local transport, education and economic development.French regions have wide powers over local transport, education and economic development.
According to one poll, the Republicans have secured about 40% of the nationwide vote, followed by the Socialists with 30% and the FN with 28%. Official results are expected early on Monday.
The first round of voting on 6 December gave the FN the best election results in its history.The first round of voting on 6 December gave the FN the best election results in its history.
It was the first electoral test since last month's Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed - an attack claimed by the so-called Islamic State group.It was the first electoral test since last month's Paris attacks, in which 130 people were killed - an attack claimed by the so-called Islamic State group.
The FN had been hoping a strong performance would boost Marine Le Pen's chances for the 2017 presidential election.The FN had been hoping a strong performance would boost Marine Le Pen's chances for the 2017 presidential election.