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France local elections: Far right expects run-off gains | France local elections: Far right expects run-off gains |
(about 5 hours later) | |
French voters have gone to the polls in the second round of local elections, expected to result in significant gains for the far-right National Front (FN). | |
The party - which won an outright victory in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont in the first round - could seize a number of towns and cities. | The party - which won an outright victory in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont in the first round - could seize a number of towns and cities. |
The centre-right is also expected to do well and may regain control of Paris. | The centre-right is also expected to do well and may regain control of Paris. |
The governing Socialists, who have been hit by growing discontent over the economy, are braced for losses. | |
The polls have already closed in some areas of France, although in some cities voting will continue until 20:00 (18:00 GMT) | |
Turnout in Sunday's vote was low, which was bad news for President Francois Hollande's Socialists as it was their supporters who were not voting, BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports. | |
The FN's success in the first round had already highlighted Mr Hollande's poor ratings. | |
The centre-right UMP appear poised to capture a number of large cities, including Strasbourg and Toulouse. | The centre-right UMP appear poised to capture a number of large cities, including Strasbourg and Toulouse. |
In Paris, which has had a Socialist mayor since 2001, UMP candidate Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet is mounting a stronger-than-expected challenge. | In Paris, which has had a Socialist mayor since 2001, UMP candidate Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet is mounting a stronger-than-expected challenge. |
Voters are choosing councillors and mayors in more than 36,000 municipalities. FN candidates have won through to the second round in some 200 places. | Voters are choosing councillors and mayors in more than 36,000 municipalities. FN candidates have won through to the second round in some 200 places. |
An anti-EU party demanding tough curbs on immigration, the FN took a first-round lead in southern cities including Avignon, Perpignan, Beziers and Frejus. It was also in second place in Marseille. | An anti-EU party demanding tough curbs on immigration, the FN took a first-round lead in southern cities including Avignon, Perpignan, Beziers and Frejus. It was also in second place in Marseille. |
Marine Le Pen, FN leader since 2011, hailed the results, saying her party had "arrived as a major independent force - a political force at both national and local level". | Marine Le Pen, FN leader since 2011, hailed the results, saying her party had "arrived as a major independent force - a political force at both national and local level". |
The FN is widely expected to do well in the European Parliament elections in May - and opinion polls suggest the Eurosceptic party is on course to come top. | The FN is widely expected to do well in the European Parliament elections in May - and opinion polls suggest the Eurosceptic party is on course to come top. |