- Title: An undecided French voter weighs whether his vote should go to Le Pen
- Date: 19th April 2017
- Summary: 52-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WORKING FOR A MOVING COMPANY AND UNDECIDED VOTER, ALAIN COLIGNON, AND HIS WIFE CHATTING IN KITCHEN DOG ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (French) 52-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WORKING FOR A MOVING COMPANY AND UNDECIDED VOTER, ALAIN COLIGNON, SAYING: "She knows. I think in the last local elections, it's when she had good results here. So, once she scored well, it was necessary to show herself from time to time, not abandon the people who voted for her, and not make them believe that they are just here for the elections. She is here to defend her territory, we can say, and maybe reinforce her position a bit more, and show that she has the aura and that she is capable thereafter of governing the country." COLIGNON AND HIS WIFE WALKING THEIR DOG THROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN TOWN CENTRE SIGN OF LOCAL RESTAURANT READING (French): "The golden apple" COLIGNON, HIS WIFE, HIS DOG AND JOURNALIST TALKING AT TERRACE OF LOCAL RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (French) 52-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WORKING FOR A MOVING COMPANY AND UNDECIDED VOTER, ALAIN COLIGNON, SAYING: "For me there is one candidate who is more credible than the others with his capacity to manage, with his experience, with his connections, I think it is Francois Fillon. That does not mean I will be voting for him, but maybe he is the most credible. He's presently being dragged by a big mess that I wonder whether one can still vote for him, even though others also have to deal with their own mess." LOCALS WALKING IN STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE BAR (SOUNDBITE) (French) 52-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WORKING FOR A MOVING COMPANY AND UNDECIDED VOTER, ALAIN COLIGNON, SAYING: "Why am I moving closer to Marine Le Pen today? Because on the right, I did not find a candidate, while in the past I always voted on the right, as the ideas of the left do not interest me much." BUILDING SERVING AS VENUE FOR RALLY OF FAR-RIGHT CANDIDATE MARINE LE PEN VARIOUS OF CROWD WAITING OUTSIDE VENUE LE PEN WALKING TO PODIUM, AS AUDIENCE CHEERS AND WAVE FLAGS CROWD CHANTING "Marine!" AND WAVING FLAGS CROWD CHANTING (French) "Marine president!" (SOUNDBITE) (French) FAR-RIGHT CANDIDATE FROM NATIONAL FRONT PARTY, MARINE LE PEN, SAYING: "It is time, for you the silent France, the France of small people, to be given a voice. Now, after so many years of polite discretion, of resignation, it is the time for you to be heard, not only in the ballot boxes in 12 days, but everywhere around you from then on. Be my voice so that I can be yours." CROWD CHANTING AND WAVING FLAGS LE PEN WAVING AND STEPPING AWAY FROM PODIUM COLIGNON AND HIS WIFE IN CROWD CROWD LEAVING VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (French) 52-YEAR-OLD DRIVER WORKING FOR A MOVING COMPANY AND UNDECIDED VOTER, ALAIN COLIGNON, SAYING: "My vote was already going towards her, in any case. But today she made sure that I had no more doubts, except for a small point concerning the environment. But on the whole, she is convincing, generally I think she has the stature to be president and in the future she will be able to assume the function of President of the Republic." SUPPORTERS STANDING OUTSIDE VENUE WITH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) MOTHER OF SEVEN, 40-YEAR-OLD MARINE LE PEN SUPPORTER, VERONIQUE, SAYING: "She is the best solution, she is the only one, I think, who can truly be here for the small ones, for us, for the people. The others, no, they're all connected to financial (lobbyists), they're all for Europe (EU). Us, we're already France, (she) has thought about those who live here, and those who suffer in France and with everything that is going on lately." COLIGNON AND HIS WIFE CROSSING STREET WITH OTHER PEOPLE
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2017 10:15
- Keywords: Marine Le Pen National Front Arcis-sur-Aube France voter election presidential election
- Location: ARCIS-SUR-AUBE, FRANCE
- City: ARCIS-SUR-AUBE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0036D2F1ON
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The rural town of Arcis-sur-Aube in central France, with a population of 3,000 and an unemployment rate of 12.3 percent, is fertile ground for far-right voters.
During the regional elections of 2015, National Front Vice President Florian Philippot won as councilor in the second round with 43.45%.
The town mayor Serge Lardin, who is not affiliated with any political party, was strongly against welcoming 50 migrants from the Calais camp, a position that hews close to National Front candidate Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration stance.
One of Arcis-sur-Aube's residents, 52-year-old Alain Colignon, is an undecided voter.
The father of two and soon to be grandfather struggles to make ends meet, especially with his wife's eye condition requiring treatment that is not always covered by health insurance.
"For me there is one candidate who is more credible than the others with his capacity to manage, with his experience, with his connections, I think it is Francois Fillon. That does not mean I will be voting for him, but maybe he is the most credible. He's presently being dragged by a big mess, that I wonder whether one can still vote for him, even though others also have to deal with their own mess," Colignon said.
A mood of insecurity has gripped their surroundings when two neighbours were robbed. With this and economic woes, Le Pen's policies on security, immigration and labour protection have appealed to Colignon.
On Tuesday (April 11), he found an opportunity to help him make up his mind: With only 12 days before the first round of the vote, Le Pen was holding a political rally in Arcis-sur-Aube. She was the only candidate to visit the town.
Colignon and his wife stayed at the back of the hall during the rally, and refrained from singing the French National Anthem when it ended.
After listening to Le Pen, Colignon said he was convinced: "My vote was already going towards her, in any case. But today she made sure that I had no more doubts, except for a small point concerning the environment. But on the whole, she is convincing, generally I think she has the stature to be president," he said.
A poll on Wednesday (April 12) predicted that Le Pen would get 23.5 percent in the first round, while centrist Emmanuel Macron would get 22.5 percent, while Macron would soundly beat Le Pen in the second round, 58.5 percent to 41.5 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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