Valerie Pecresse, a veteran politician who served as minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, will go into a runoff as favourite to be picked as the centre-right Les Republicains' candidate in the French presidential election in April.
Pecresse will face Eric Ciotti, a staunch right-winger among the party ranks, in the runoff. The winner will head the party's bid to return to power for the first time in a decade.
Ciotti entered the race as an unfancied runner but his no-nonsense talk on restoring the state's authority, defending France's national identity and promoting economic liberalism struck a chord with members. The centre-right, which traces its origins back to Charles de Gaulle, dominated French politics for much of the post-war era but has struggled to heal divides and recast its identity since President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 election win redrew the political landscape.
Opinion polls before the party's first-round vote showed Ciotti would perform weakest of the five in the April presidential election, with 6% voter support nationally.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The 14 Best French Shows on Netflix in 2021These French-language shows span all genres, and include a sci-fi epic, a horror show, and several thrillers.
Read more »
In a French migrant camp, a man sells sandwiches to raise smugglers' feeA couple of days after migrants started to set up tents in a new location along an old rail line in Dunkirk in northern France last week, Dawan Anwar Mahmud quickly took the opportunity to build the make-shift camp’s first restaurant.
Read more »
Hillary Clinton's warnings about threat to abortion rights resurfaceThe former secretary of state and Democratic presidential contender warned half a decade ago that abortion rights could be rolled back.
Read more »
Stacey Abrams launches second campaign for Georgia governorDemocratic voting rights activist Stacey Abrams says she's running again in Georgia. She'll be the nation's first Black female governor if she wins.
Read more »
How to Get Tickets to Adele's Vegas Residency (You'll Need a Bit of Luck and Good Timing)Tickets to Adele's Las Vegas residency go on sale Tuesday, and fans who register for Ticketmaster's 'Verified Fan' program will get first dibs on seats. Here's how the program works and what you'll need to do to score an Adele presale code
Read more »