French president hopeful calls for regional election results

PARIS, June 27 (Reuters) – France voted on Sunday for regional elections that could shake the first-right regional power base and shift the balance between political heavyweights vying for pole position in the race. Presidency next year

Sunday’s first round proved disastrous for President Emmanuel Macron, whose party is on the verge of winning in 13 regions of France. But it’s disappointing for far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Read more

The surprising factor of these elections was the record-breaking abstention rate. This makes the competition difficult to predict for voters. On Sunday, only 27.89 percent of voters cast their votes by 5 PM (1500 GMT), down from 50.54% in 2015.

“Today I have no intention of going to vote. Just because I have lost faith in our politicians,” Parisian Jean-Jacques told Reuters TV while strolling on a bridge on the Seine.

But others were drawn to news of low protest numbers on Sunday. “I didn’t vote last week. But the abstention rate is quite a wake-up call. So I decided to come and vote today instead of staying home or going for a walk. because it is important,” said Masing Coulibaly, a 38-year-old attorney.

In the first round, Le Pen’s party missed the poll’s predictions. by being in the top in one region is Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur in the southeast

meanwhile traditional middle-right Destroyed by Macron in the 2017 presidential and legislative elections, another surprise came back.

Three high-ranking members who are all former ministers and is currently the leader of some of France’s most populous regions. Currently running for re-election this Sunday. which they hope will be the starting point for their 2022 presidential race.

Up-and-coming favorites

In particular, Xavier Bertrand, from the northern Hauts-de-France region around Calais, has emerged as the favorite of conservatives in polls to represent the party in the presidential election. Read more

Macron’s aides viewed the former health minister as a threat that could eat at the president’s center-right voter base in the president’s first-round vote in April.

Valerie Pecresse in the great Paris region and Laurent Wauquiez in the greater Lyon region are the other conservatives. Which Sunday’s fate could decide whether they challenge Bertrand in 2022 for a middle ticket.

Le Pen’s national rally continues to hope to win the first regional race in the Southeast around Marseille and Nice. Her candidate Thierry Mariani, a former Conservative Minister won the position from the center right last Sunday. but with lower than expected profit margins Read more

Victory will give Le Pen the momentum and platform to challenge Macron in 2022. A repeat duel in 2017 showing the pole will be won by Macron once again. although it has a thinner margin.

Elsewhere, Greens and leftist allies hope to capture the Loire Valley. While the four-way race in Burgundy provides external opportunities for far-rights to seize power.

Reporting by Michel Rose, editing by Mark Potter.

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