Front National wins first round of French regional elections

The far-right Front National has made a significant breakthrough in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, winning the opening round of regional elections and coming top in half of France’s regions.

The impressive showing is the highest ever performance for the anti-immigration, anti-European party and, if it maintains the strong lead in in next week’s second round, it could reshape France’s political landscape.

FN, which pushed a hardline stance on Islam, security and national identity, was the only political party to make solid gains in the wake of the Paris attacks three weeks ago in which gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 at bars, a concert hall and the national stadium.

With 95% of ballots counted, the far-right party topped the poll nationwide with 28.6% of the vote, compared to only 11% in the last regional elections in 2010.

The FN also came top in six out of 13 mainland French regions – a historic moment for the far right which has never before held the leadership of a French region.

Nicolas Sarkozy’s rightwing Les Républicains party came second and the Socialist party came third.

Even though the Socialist French president François Hollande has seen his popularity rise following his hardline reaction to the Paris attacks, this did not translate into a poll boost for his party at a time of high unemployment, economic gloom and national trauma.

The final result will be decided in a second-round vote on 13 December.