The now significant third-force in French politics

Forget about feeling sorry for Nicolas Sarkozy. He and Carla can, it would seem, start packing their backs preparatory to leaving the Elysee Palace.

With the first round of the French presidential election just concluded, the far-right party headed by Marine Le Pen has scored well with 20% of the vote.

"In the run up to Sunday's first round presidential vote, it was hard to find many people in France publicly admitting they intended to vote for Marine Le Pen. Nevertheless between 18% and 20% appear to have done so – a stunning result for the far right.

It was a record for France's Front National, beating the previous best in 2002 when Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie, won his way into the second-round run-off with 17% of votes.

The surprise score reflected not only how Marine, a 43-year-old lawyer, made inroads into the French political landscape during a campaign in which she relentlessly challenged the "established" candidates, but also a deep disillusion with the main parties. She has now become the third force in the presidential campaign and a possible kingmaker in the second-round run-off in two week's time."

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