ASSESSMENTS

In France, Discontent Favors the National Front

Dec 5, 2015 | 14:37 GMT

Marine Le Pen, president of France's growingly popular National Front party, on Dec. 3 awaits the beginning of a debate with other candidates running in regional elections for Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie. Dissatisfaction with France's direction will boost the far-right in upcoming elections.

(PHILLIPE HUGUEN/Getty Images)

Summary

France is preparing to hold regional elections, and the country's ruling party is bracing itself for the fallout. At a time of high unemployment levels and sluggish economic growth, French voters will likely look to punish the Socialist Party by backing its center-right and far-right rivals instead. The National Front, which opposes immigration and wants France to leave the eurozone, is already expected to win in at least two of the country's biggest regions. The Dec. 6 elections will be the last vote held before France's presidential election in 2017, and every indicator suggests they will mark yet another victory for the Euroskeptic forces gaining strength across Europe.

France is preparing to hold regional elections, and the country's ruling party is bracing itself for the fallout. At a time of high unemployment levels and sluggish economic growth, French voters will likely look to punish the Socialist Party by backing its center-right and far-right rivals instead. The National Front, which opposes immigration and wants France to leave the eurozone, is already expected to win in at least two of the country's biggest regions. The Dec. 6 elections will be the last vote held before France's presidential election in 2017, and every indicator suggests that they will mark yet another victory for the Euroskeptic forces gaining strength across Europe....

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