The Front National Party — led by Marine Le Pen, who is using the regional election as a springboard for her bid for the French presidency in 2017 — has seen a huge surge in support and is set to take control of at least one of the 13 regions in the second voting round next week.
In the first round of polling on December 6, Le Pen's party picked up 28 percent of the vote nationally, ahead of ex-president Sarkozy's conservative Republicans party and its allies, who polled 27 percent. President François Hollande's ruling Socialists came third, polling 23%.
Front National tops poll in 6 of 13 regions w almost 30% of vote in #France. In 2010 the FN won 12% #franceelections pic.twitter.com/IvCzwt1dnt
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) December 7, 2015
In an effort to stave off the challenge in the second round on December 13, both Sarkozy and Hollande are using different tactics. But Sarkozy has caused consternation in his party by appealing to the right-wing sentiment of Le Pen's supporters.
"A vote for the National Front is not a vote against the Republic… it is not immoral," Sarkozy said to a crowd in western France.
He told France-Inter radio that he sympathized with the popular embitterment over the refugee crisis and that there was nothing immoral about voting for the Front National.
"As if there were good French voters and bad French voters. If you say to people who are suffering that they are stupid and immoral, you are not distinguishing between the National Front leaders and their voters."
The apparent overture to Le Pen voters goes against the Republicans' basic belief that the Front National is not a party of good repute. Xavier Bertrand, a former Sarkozy minister, is said to have advised Sarkozy his ploy was ruinous.
"If you can't lock yourself away for a few days, then shut up," Bertrand advised the former president.
Refugees, Terror Prompt Shift to the Right
Sarkozy had hoped for a better outcome in the first round of voting, with Hollande's rating having been low for some time, as he faces criticism over his economic policies that have failed to grow the economy and kept unemployment high.
However, the refugee crisis and the terror attacks — bringing calls for the reintroduction of border controls — have played into the hands of Marine Le Pen's party, which has seen an enormous growth in support.
Hollande's socialist party has begun withdrawing candidates from some regions they believe they cannot win, in an effort to force a run-off between the Republicans and the Front National, believing the policy will defeat Le Pen's party's chances.
