French far-right party elects new leader to replace Le Pen
PARIS — (AP) — An ambitious 27-year-old is vying against a longtime heavyweight in France's main far-right party to replace Marine Le Pen as leader of the resurgent National Rally in a contest culminating Saturday at a party congress. Bardella has been the interim president of the National Rally since Le Pen entered the presidential race last year. He has been a fervent supporter of Le Pen’s rise and is a former romantic partner of hers. Le Pen lost to Emmanuel Macron on her third bid for the presidency this year, but won 44% of the vote, her highest score yet. Le Pen has gone to great lengths to remove the stigma of racism and antisemitism that clung to the far-right party, to soften its image and to broaden her audience.
wftv.comFrench lawmaker gets 15-day suspension after racist comment
PARIS — (AP) — A French far-right lawmaker has been suspended from the country's parliament for 15 days, the maximum penalty, after he made a racist remark during a legislative session, which prompted condemnation from across the political spectrum. Other politicians, including France’s president, said they were shocked by de Fournas’ remark, which raised new questions about xenophobia on the far right and in other parts of French society. His words prompted an immediate uproar in the National Assembly, leading the legislative chamber's president to suspend the session. Members of the National Assembly’s managing body said Friday they unanimously to give de Fournas the maximum penalty, 15 days of suspension. The Elysee presidential palace said French President Emmanuel Macron was shocked by words he considered “unacceptable in or outside" the assembly.
wftv.comRacist incident in French parliament triggers condemnations
PARIS — (AP) — A Black lawmaker said Friday he was “deeply hurt” after a far-right member of the French parliament made a racist remark during a legislative session, something that has triggered condemnations from across the political spectrum. The comments shocked many, up to France’s president himself, and raised new questions about xenophobia on the far right and other parts of French society. The words prompted immediate uproar in the legislature, leading the president of the National Assembly to suspend the session and launch an investigation. French anti-racist groups stressed that regardless of who was targeted, the comments echo a racist insult toward Black people being told to go back to Africa. The National Rally is the party of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who lost her third bid for the French presidency to Macron in April.
wftv.comMacron's centrist French govt survives no-confidence votes
French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government has survived two no-confidence votes prompted by opposition lawmakers to protest the use of a special constitutional power to force the budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote.
First female premier poised to take helm of Italy government
A party with neo-fascist roots has won the most votes in Italy’s national election, setting the stage for talks to form the country’s first far right-led government since World War II, with Giorgia Meloni at the helm as Italy’s first female premier.
No-confidence vote embodies divided French parliament
The motion is unlikely to be adopted by lawmakers since a no-confidence vote must get approval from more than half the seats — at least 289 lawmakers — to be valid. That means that if many opposition lawmakers abstain, while Macron’s alliance members vote against, the threshold can't be reached. A no-confidence vote only succeeded once in the history of the French Republic, in 1962. The no-confidence vote is used by the Nupes as a symbolic way to claim political space as the parliament's leading opposition group. Normally, a new government in France requests a vote of confidence from the parliament to give more legitimacy to their agenda.
wftv.comFrance reshaped: Election emboldens Le Pen, undercuts Macron
France Elections French far-right leader Marine Le Pen adresses reporters Monday, June 20, 2022 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. Le Pen’s National Rally party didn’t win the two-round parliamentary election that ended Sunday. It was only in April that Le Pen lost the presidential election to Macron. “Macron is a minority president now,” a beaming Le Pen declared Monday in Hénin-Beaumont, her stronghold in northern France. "His retirement reform plan is buried.”She said the National Rally will seek to chair the parliament’s powerful finance committee.
wftv.comFrance awakens to an emboldened Le Pen after far-right gains
France Elections French far-right leader Marine Le Pen adresses reporters Monday, June 20, 2022 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. Le Pen’s National Rally party didn’t win the two rounds of voting in the parliamentary election, which ended Sunday. It was only a couple of months ago that Le Pen lost the presidential election to Macron. Le Pen lost to Macron in April with 41.5% of the votes against 58.5% — her highest-ever level of support in her three attempts to become France’s leader. Since taking over the party in 2011, Le Pen has worked to remove the stigma of racism and antisemitism attached to the National Front under the leadership of her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
wftv.comLe Pen: Huge gains in French parliament a 'seismic event'
France Elections French far-right leader Marine Le Pen adresses reporters Monday, June 20, 2022 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)PARIS — (AP) — Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that her party’s extraordinary surge in the country's parliamentary election is a “historic victory” and a “seismic event” in French politics. Le Pen’s National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member parliament, up from a previous total of eight. In addition, the National Rally party now has enough seats — more than 58 — to trigger a censure motion against the government that can lead to a no-confidence vote. The latest parliamentary election has once again largely been defined by voter apathy — with over half the electorate staying home.
wftv.comLe Pen: Huge gains in French parliament a 'seismic event'
France Elections French far-right leader Marine Le Pen adresses reporters Monday, June 20, 2022 in Henin-Beaumont, northern France. French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance was projected to lose its majority despite getting the most seats in the final round of parliamentary elections Sunday, while the far-right National Rally appeared to have made big gains. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)PARIS — (AP) — Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that her party’s extraordinary surge in the country's parliamentary election is a “historic victory” and a “seismic event” in French politics. Le Pen’s National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member parliament, up from a previous total of eight. won the most seats — 245 — but fell 44 seats short of a straight majority in the National Assembly, France’s most powerful house of parliament.
wftv.comHow an Emboldened Far-Right Is Changing French Politics
Only once has France had a far-right government -- in the dark days of Nazi occupation during World War II. That lingering association with a period of national calamity confined extreme conservative groups to the margins of politics for the rest of the 20th century. Now they’re making a comeback, exploiting economic insecurity to peddle a narrative of a proud nation in decline, besieged by alien cultures. In an April presidential election, far-right figures secured the most votes since the foun
washingtonpost.comHard-left leader sees win in French vote, himself as new PM
Leftist parties that had nearly disappeared from the French political landscape have grown wings in the runup to Sunday’s legislative elections and now threaten to weaken President Emmanuel Macron and his hopes of slam-dunking his agenda through parliament.
How an Emboldened Far-Right Is Changing French Politics
Only once has France had a far-right government -- in the dark days of Nazi occupation during World War II. That lingering association with a period of national calamity confined extreme conservative groups to the margins of politics for the rest of the 20th century. Now they’re making a comeback, exploiting economic insecurity to peddle a narrative of a proud nation in decline, besieged by alien cultures. In an April presidential election, far-right figures secured the most votes since the foun
washingtonpost.comHow Emboldened Far-Right Is Changing French Politics
Only once has France had a far-right government -- in the dark days of Nazi occupation during World War II. That lingering association with a period of national calamity confined extreme conservative groups to the margins of politics for the rest of the 20th century. Now they’re making a comeback, exploiting economic insecurity to peddle a narrative of a proud nation in decline, besieged by alien cultures. In an April presidential election, far-right figures secured the most votes since the foun
washingtonpost.comEmmanuel who? Far-right fighting hard-left for French vote
After losing to Macron in the April presidential election, far-right leader Marine Le Pen now faces a challenge from her political nemesis, hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon who has set his sights on becoming prime minister. Le Pen mocks Melenchon as the “court jester” who will never be prime minister. But for Le Pen the animosity has clearly deepened with the leftist alliance Melenchon concluded with Socialists, Communists and Greens that strengthens his hand. Le Pen’s party refused an alliance with the upstart far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour, who stole some of her party’s known figures but finished with only 7% of the vote. Le Pen, looking to renew her seat, is among the 569 candidates her party is fielding around France.
wftv.comMay Day rallies in Europe honor workers, protest govts
(Joerg Carstensen/dpa via AP) (Joerg Carstensen)PARIS — (AP) — Citizens and trade unions in cities around Europe were taking to the streets on Sunday for May Day marches, and put out protest messages to their governments, notably in France where the holiday to honor workers was being used as a rallying cry against newly reelected President Emmanuel Macron. In Italy, after a two-year pandemic lull, an outdoor mega-concert was set for Rome with rallies and protests in cities across the country. Italy’s three main labor unions were focusing their main rally in the hilltop town of Assisi, a frequent destination for peace protests. In France, the May Day rallies are meant to show Macron the opposition he could face in his second five-year term and to power up against his centrists before June legislative elections. Opposition parties, notably the far left and far right, are looking to break his government’s majority.
wftv.comFrench Centrist: President Macron’s victory halts Europe’s far right, for now
Critics say French President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist movement has co-opted elements of France’s much-diminished traditional center-left and center-right factions, is walking an impossibly fine line.
washingtonpost.comFar-right Le Pen plots parliament win after loss to Macron
Centrist President Emmanuel Macron beat her 58.5% to 41.5% to win reelection Sunday but Le Pen produced her highest-ever level of support in her three attempts to become France's leader. Le Pen called a national bureau meeting of her far-right National Rally party on Monday. Italian right-wing leader Matteo Salvini, a close Le Pen ally, pledged to continue their common project toward this vision. Many voters already expect that Le Pen will gain more seats in parliament, the question is only how much. If Le Pen's party had enough members to form a group in parliament, it would get more precious speaking time and clout.
wftv.comLive updates | Japan: Macron's reelection key to G-7 unity
___BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first foreign leader to call President Emmanuel Macron and congratulate him on his reelection, Scholz’ office said. ___PARIS — Supporters of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen gathered at her election-night even in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne booed loudly as provisional results were announced. ___European leaders have been quick to congratulate French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election. Many in Europe had worried Le Pen would undermine European unity and its post-war order. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comAnalysis: Loss is victory for far-right in France's election
APTOPIX France Presidential Election Far-right leader Marine Le Pen gestures as she arrives to speak after the early result projections of the French presidential election runoff were announced in Paris, Sunday, April 24, 2022. That's the headline from the landmark showing by Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election. In short, France escaped a political, social and economic electroshock by not voting in Le Pen. But Le Pen does speak to many who feel unheard and uncared for by officials in Paris and Brussels. ___Follow AP's coverage of the French election at https://apnews.com/hub/french-election-2022Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.
wftv.comZelenskyy meets top-level US delegation, gets aid promises
KYIV, Ukraine — (AP) — The U.S. secretaries of state and defense met Sunday night with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the highest-level visit to the country’s capital by an American delegation since the start of Russia's invasion. While the West has funneled military equipment to Ukraine, Zelenskyy has stressed repeatedly that his country needs more heavy weapons, including long-range air defense systems and warplanes. The Russian military reported hitting 423 Ukrainian targets overnight, including fortified positions and troop concentrations, while its warplanes destroyed 26 Ukrainian military sites, including an explosives factory and several artillery depots. Russian forces launched fresh airstrikes on a Mariupol steel plant where an estimated 1,000 civilians are sheltering along with about 2,000 Ukrainian fighters. Arestovych, the Zelenskyy adviser, said Ukraine has proposed holding talks with Russia next to the sprawling steel mill.
wftv.comLive updates | Ukraine leader congratulates Macron on win
APTOPIX France Presidential Election Supporters of French President Emmanuel Macron celebrate in Paris, France, Sunday, April 24, 2022. The 19-year-old law student could have been forced to remove her headscarf if far-right leader Marine Le Pen had won instead of incumbent Emmanuel Macron. ___BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first foreign leader to call President Emmanuel Macron and congratulate him on his reelection, Scholz’ office said. ___PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has conceded defeat in the presidential runoff, handing victory to incumbent Emmanuel Macron. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comLive updates | Macron to the French people: "Thank you."
___European leaders have been quick to congratulate French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election. ___PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has conceded defeat in the presidential runoff, handing victory to incumbent Emmanuel Macron. French polling agencies are projecting that centrist Macron has won the runoff against Le Pen that took place Sunday. Five years ago, Macron won a sweeping victory over Le Pen to become the youngest French president. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comLive updates | Spanish leader sees victory for Europe
Zemmour received 7% of the votes in the first round of the presidential election on April 10. Many in Europe had worried Le Pen would undermine European unity and its post-war order. ___PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has conceded defeat in the presidential runoff, handing victory to incumbent Emmanuel Macron. She said her unprecedented score in a presidential election represents “a shining victory in itself.”“The ideas we represent are reaching summits,” she said. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen went first, cheerily greeting election workers in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, in France’s struggling former industrial heartland.
wftv.comFrance's Macron is reelected but far-right rival raises game
(AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Thibault Camus)PARIS — (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron comfortably won reelection to a second term Sunday, according to polling agencies' projections. Le Pen also spoke out against sanctions on Russian energy supplies and faced scrutiny during the campaign over her previous friendliness with the Kremlin. Five years ago, Macron won a sweeping victory over Le Pen to become France’s youngest president at 39. Le Pen’s score this time rewarded her years-long efforts to make her far-right politics more palatable to voters. Le Pen was beaten 66% to 34% by Macron in 2017 and her father got less than 20% against Chirac.
wftv.comLive updates | Leftist leader vows to fight Macron in June
___PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has conceded defeat in the presidential runoff, handing victory to incumbent Emmanuel Macron. She said her unprecedented score in a presidential election represents “a shining victory in itself.”“The ideas we represent are reaching summits,” she said. French polling agencies are projecting that centrist Macron has won the runoff against Le Pen that took place Sunday. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen went first, cheerily greeting election workers in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, in France’s struggling former industrial heartland. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comPolling agencies project Macron to be reelected in France
APTOPIX France Presidential Election People queue to vote at a polling station in Lyon, central France, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Some trooped reluctantly to polling stations solely to stop Le Pen, casting joyless votes for Macron. Macron beat Le Pen handily in 2017 — 66% to 34% — but the result is expected to be closer this time. Le Pen voted in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, in France’s struggling former industrial heartland. Le Pen, once considered a climate-change skeptic, wants to scrap subsidies for renewable energies.
wftv.comLive updates | French exit polls show victory for Macron
APTOPIX France Presidential Election French President and centrist candidate for reelection Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in voting booths at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Five years ago, Macron won a sweeping victory over Le Pen to become the youngest French president. ___LE TOUQUET, France — The two candidates for France’s presidential runoff have cast their ballots — and basked in adoring crowds outside their polling stations. ___PARIS — France began voting in a presidential runoff election Sunday with repercussions for Europe’s future. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comLive updates | Voter turnout low so far in French election
(Gonzalo Fuentes; Pool via AP) (Gonzalo Fuentes)PARIS — Voter turnout is lower than usual in France’s presidential runoff Sunday, apparently reflecting voter frustration with both candidates, centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen. Polls before Sunday’s election gave Macron a solid lead over Le Pen, but to keep it he needs the support of many left-wing voters who shunned both him and Le Pen in the first-round election on April 10. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen went first, cheerily greeting election workers in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, in France’s struggling former industrial heartland. ___PARIS — France began voting in a presidential runoff election Sunday with repercussions for Europe’s future. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comLive updates | Candidates vote in French presidential runoff
(Gonzalo Fuentes; Pool via AP) (Gonzalo Fuentes)LE TOUQUET, France — The two candidates for France’s presidential runoff have cast their ballots — and basked in adoring crowds outside their polling stations. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen went first, cheerily greeting election workers in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont, in France’s struggling former industrial heartland. Polls also forecast a possibly record-high number of people who will either cast a blank vote or not vote at all. ___PARIS — France began voting in a presidential runoff election Sunday with repercussions for Europe’s future. Centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the front-runner, but he's fighting a tough challenge from far-right rival Marine Le Pen.
wftv.comEXPLAINER: How France's old-school voting system works
France Presidential Election A man cats his vote in the second round of the French presidential election in Marseille, southern France Sunday, April 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) (Daniel Cole)PARIS — (AP) — Paper ballots tucked in paper envelopes. French voters in Sunday's presidential election are using and old-school system that has defied calls for more flexibility or modernization. Local authorities can organize vans or buses to pick up older people from nursing homes to bring them to voting stations, and prisons set up voting stations inside their facilities. The ministry said it received no reports of irregularities involving voting machines in the first-round vote on April 10.
wftv.comMacron vs Le Pen: France votes in tense presidential runoff
France Presidential Election A farmer sets up at the Salies de Bearn market, southwestern France, in front of presidential campaign posters of French President and centrist candidate for reelection Emmanuel Macron and French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, right, Saturday, April 23, 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron is facing off against far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in France's April 24 presidential runoff. A Macron victory in this vote would make him the first French president in 20 years to win a second term. The outcome could depend on how left-wing voters make up their minds: between backing Macron or abstaining and leaving him to fend for himself against Le Pen. Le Pen, once considered a climate-change skeptic, wants to scrap subsidies for renewable energies.
wftv.comVoting opens in France runoff between Macron and Le Pen
France Presidential Election Presidential campaign posters of French President and centrist candidate for reelection Emmanuel Macron, left, and French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, in Salies de Bearn, southwestern France, Saturday, April 23, 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron is facing off against far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in France's April 24 presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Bob Edme) (Bob Edme)PARIS — (AP) — France began voting in a presidential runoff election Sunday in a race between between incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right politician Marine Le Pen. Macron is in pole position to win reelection in the country’s presidential runoff, yet his lead over Le Pen depends on one major uncertainty: voters who could decide to stay home. Polls also forecast a possibly record-high number of people who will either cast a blank vote or not vote at all.
wftv.comFrance’s two presidential contenders: Who’s proposing what
APTOPIX France Presidential Election Centrist candidate and French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a campaign rally Friday, April 22, 2022 in Figeac, southwestern France. Emmanuel Macron is facing off against far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in France's April 24 presidential runoff. Le Pen is no longer calling for a referendum on leaving the EU or withdrawal from the euro. Le Pen has earned support in rural regions by campaigning against wind farms, vowing to dismantle them and invest in nuclear and hydro energy. Le Pen wants citizens to be able to have a direct voice in laws by allowing them to propose referendums if they obtain 500,000 signatures to back them.
wftv.comRussia's Navalny accuses Le Pen of Kremlin ties before vote
Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny waded into France’s tight presidential campaign, urging voters to back incumbent Emmanuel Macron in Sunday's runoff and alleging that far-right challenger Marine Le Pen is too closely linked to Russia.
Macron attacks Le Pen on Russia, Muslim headscarf ban pledge
French President Emmanuel Macron has torn into his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen in a television debate for her ties to Russia and for wanting to strip Muslim women of their right to cover their heads in public, as he seeks the votes he needs to win another 5-year term.