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France local elections: Far right expects run-off gains France local elections: Socialists lose heavily - early results
(about 2 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). France's governing Socialists have suffered big losses in municipal elections, early results show, with the opposition UMP claiming victory and the far right celebrating further gains.
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. UMP leader Jean-Francois Cope hailed what he called a "blue wave" of support for his centre-right party.
The centre-right is also expected to do well and may regain control of Paris. The far-right National Front (FN) was heading for victory in up to seven towns, early results indicated.
The governing Socialists, who have been hit by growing discontent over the economy, are braced for losses. The Socialists have been hit by growing discontent over the economy.
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 second-round 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.
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. Marine Le Pen's National Front was on course for victory in the southern towns of Beziers and Frejus and in Villers-Cotterets north-east of Paris.
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 key cities, including Saint-Etienne, Reims and Roubaix, our correspondent says.
The centre-right UMP appear poised to capture a number of large cities, including Strasbourg and Toulouse. A reshuffle - and quite likely a replacement for Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault - could be announced as early as Monday, he adds.
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, exit polls indicated Socialist candidate Anne Hidalgo was set to defeat UMP candidate Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
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. It was seen as a consolation for the governing party on a night of setbacks.
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. Voters were choosing councillors and mayors in more than 36,000 municipalities. FN candidates had won through to the second round in some 200 places.
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.