After the first round of voting in the Regional Elections last week, the ruling Socialist party discovered not only that the National Front party (FN) had obtained the most votes, but that the Socialists were now in third place behind the Republican Party.
To stop FN winning in the final round next Sunday, Prime Minister Valls wanted the Republicans and the Socialists to agree that the weaker of the two parties in each Region should withdraw from the Election and to instruct its electors to vote against FN ! He was stopped in his tracks when Nicolas Sarkozy ordered all his candidates to refuse to withdraw.
This meant Valls could not expect any help from "the other Party" to defeat FN. However, he was not subdued ! He ordered all his Socialist parties in the Regions which were in 3rd place, to withdraw.
Everyone has withdrawn except one, 71 year old Jean-Pierre Masseret, in the East of France.
Quite a few people are surprised at what Valls has done. Is this really the spirit of Democracy ? They also ask why has FN so many electors now voting for them ? Why is Valls so worried ? Is FN as dangerous as Valls pretends ? Or do electors think the two other parties have not been doing what they expect them to do ?
Crucial worries in France, as elsewhere, are uncontrolled Immigration and Terrorism, themes which FN has criticised for years. After the Terrorist attack on "Hebdo Charley" in January 2015 nothing really changed until the recent "Bataclan" attack !
The question now is, how will all this affect the Vote next Sunday ?
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