The first round of the regional elections, which took place in France on Sunday December 6th 2015, has set the National Front party, led by Marine le Pen, ahead of the traditional republican parties.
Although this is only the first round of the regional elections with a turnout of less than 45%, the FN members and sympathizers have massively mobilized, allowing the National Front to be, in practice, already elected in some key regions of France.
These elections, which occur after three weeks following the Paris attacks, and equally at a time when the asylum issue is tear Europe apart, are likely to affect the Old Continent. The far-right parties have been on an upward slope in the last months, owing to the issue of Syrian refugees and the rise of racism against Muslims. The second round of these regional elections will be held on 13 December, which is exactly a month after the Paris attacks.
CCME