An undecided French voter weighs whether his vote should go to Le Pen

Record ID: 645452

  • Title: An undecided French voter weighs whether his vote should go to Le Pen
  • Date: 19th April 2017
  • Summary: ARCIS-SUR-AUBE, FRANCE (APRIL 11, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FIELD OF CROPS, WITH TRACTORS FIELD OF FLOWERS, WITH WIND TURBINES NEARBY FLOWER ROAD ENTRANCE TO ARCIS-SUR-AUBE SIGN READING (French): "Arcis-sur-Aube" VARIOUS OF RIVER FLOWING THROUGH TOWN FISHERMEN FISHING FROM BRIDGE WOODEN BOARD WITH ONE MARINE LE PEN POSTER
  • 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: LVA0016D2F1ON
  • 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.
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