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| France local elections: Conservatives hold off National Front | France local elections: Conservatives hold off National Front |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| France's centre-right UMP party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of local elections, partial results show. | France's centre-right UMP party and its allies have taken first place in the first round of local elections, partial results show. |
| Projections suggest that the far-right National Front - despite strong gains - came second with about 25% of the vote, behind the conservatives on 31%. | |
| President Francois Hollande's governing Socialists came third with 20%. | |
| Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare. | Voters are electing representatives in 101 departments, or counties, charged with issues like schools and welfare. |
| The results mean the second round on 29 March will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many constituencies. | The results mean the second round on 29 March will see a run-off between the UMP and the FN in many constituencies. |
| In the past, voters for rival parties have combined in the second round to keep the far right out. | In the past, voters for rival parties have combined in the second round to keep the far right out. |
| The poor results for the Socialists follows on from their defeats in municipal and EU elections last year. | The poor results for the Socialists follows on from their defeats in municipal and EU elections last year. |
| Some polls ahead of the vote had indicated that Marine Le Pen's FN could come top in the first round. | Some polls ahead of the vote had indicated that Marine Le Pen's FN could come top in the first round. |
| Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris | Analysis: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris |
| It's another big vote for the French far right, following the municipal and European elections last year. In this first round of departmental or county council elections, nationwide 24.5% of voters chose the National Front, according to one poll. | It's another big vote for the French far right, following the municipal and European elections last year. In this first round of departmental or county council elections, nationwide 24.5% of voters chose the National Front, according to one poll. |
| It is a figure that shows yet again how Marine Le Pen's strategy of building a system of local organisation and shutting down the party's overtly racist elements is paying off. | It is a figure that shows yet again how Marine Le Pen's strategy of building a system of local organisation and shutting down the party's overtly racist elements is paying off. |
| However, opinion polls had suggested the far-right could have done better - even emerging as the most popular party in the election. | However, opinion polls had suggested the far-right could have done better - even emerging as the most popular party in the election. |
| That didn't happen, which has given some cheer to the mainstream opposition here, led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy. | That didn't happen, which has given some cheer to the mainstream opposition here, led by former President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| Ms Le Pen had been hoping the elections would build momentum ahead of her expected bid for the presidency in 2017. | Ms Le Pen had been hoping the elections would build momentum ahead of her expected bid for the presidency in 2017. |
| Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the news that the FN had scored less that some had predicted, saying the results showed it was not the strongest force in French politics. | Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the news that the FN had scored less that some had predicted, saying the results showed it was not the strongest force in French politics. |
| However, Ms Le Pen called for Mr Valls to resign, celebrating what she said was a "massive vote" for her party, exceeding its performance in the European Parliament elections. | However, Ms Le Pen called for Mr Valls to resign, celebrating what she said was a "massive vote" for her party, exceeding its performance in the European Parliament elections. |
| For the first time, voters in these elections are not choosing single candidates - but pairs of candidates - one man and one woman - in order to enforce strict gender equality in local politics. | For the first time, voters in these elections are not choosing single candidates - but pairs of candidates - one man and one woman - in order to enforce strict gender equality in local politics. |