FRANCE: REACTIONS TO ELECTION OF FAR-RIGHTIST JEAN MARIE LE PEN IN FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 648726

  • Title: FRANCE: REACTIONS TO ELECTION OF FAR-RIGHTIST JEAN MARIE LE PEN IN FIRST ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 24th April 2002
  • Summary: (U5)PARIS, FRANCE (APRIL 22, 2002)(REUTERS) 1. GV PARIS ROOFTOPS; SLV TUBE EXIT (3 SHOTS) 0.15 2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "Everyone is discouraged. You saw the reactions. People did demonstrate in France's main cities. We didn't think Le Pen would make it to the second round. He arrives like an outsider in a horse race. We didn't count with him, we didn't gamble on him. He came and surprised everyone." 0.37 3. SLV STREET WITH PEOPLE DISCUSSING THE VOTING IN FRONT OF A SHOP CALLED 'SUNSHINE' 0.42 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING "A lot of people voted for Le Pen. Everybody knows what he thinks, what he thinks about black people, what he is going to do about the situation of black people in France. It's sad, very sad." 0.56 5. SLV YOUNG CHILD PLAYING WITH EMPTY BOTTLE OF WATER ON STREET; SLV EXTERIOR OF SHOP CALLED 'AFRO KING' (3 SHOTS) 1.12 6. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING "I think people should realise the amplitude of the distress of the people, of the French people. I think they should get together to fight against what has happened. They have to fight against it all. People have to be brought back to reason. It's about time." 1.33 7. MV WAITER TRYING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO HIS RESTAURANT 1.43 8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MANAGER OF THE RESTAURANT SAYING "Jacques Chirac doesn't harm anyone. He is a very good president for the French Republic, for foreigners. With Jean Marie Le Pen, we don't know. We have never heard him really." 2.00 9. MV MAN UNLOADING FRUITS FROM TRUCK 2.05 10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAN SAYING "I hope he will not win. There is this image. (Touching his nose) I can smell danger." 2.18 11. SLV STREET WITH ARC DE TRIOMPHE IN THE BACKGROUND; SLV RUE DES ROSIERS IN THE JEWISH QUARTER OF PARIS, WITH SHOPS; SCU SIGN 'JEWISH DELICATESSEN' (3 SHOTS) 2.34 12. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING "Never, I could never have imagined such a thing. He is a fascist, a neo-Nazi. I don't understand. I don't understand why French have done that. Furthermore, Jospin is not even number 2, he has been completely ousted. I can't understand, and find it dreadful." 3.00 13. GV PARIS ROOFTOPS UNDER HAZE 3.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th May 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAAM2IZVQV0ZIEPK1IDZA3YAVWS
  • Story Text: French citizens from different communities have
    expressed their shock and sadness at the election of
    far-rightist Jean Marie Le Pen in the first round of France's
    presidential election.

    For many French people, Paris will never look the
    same. There have been mixed reactions to Jean Marie Le Pen's
    reaching the second round of the French presidential race,
    with many Parisiennes expressing their disappointment.

    In the 10th arrondissement of Paris, a neighbourhood where
    many families of African origin live, people were surprised,
    and discouraged at the success of the right wing candidate.

    "Everyone is discouraged. You saw the reactions. People
    did demonstrate in France's main cities. We didn't think Le
    Pen would make it to the second round. He arrives like an
    outsider in a horse race. We didn't count with him, we didn't
    gamble on him. He came and surprised everyone," said a man who
    declined to give his name.

    The result of the first round of the elections might be a
    surprise for French voters, but a young man walking with his
    friend said no one in France could afford to ignore what Le
    Pen's politics are about.

    "Everybody knows what he thinks, what he thinks about
    black people, what he is going to do about the situation of
    black people in France. It's sad, very sad."
    In the same neighbourhood, a woman of African origin, in a
    colourful traditional African dress, appealed to French people
    to unite and react against Le Pen.

    "They have to fight against it all. People have to be
    brought back to reason. It's about time."
    In a covered lane famous for its Indian restaurants, the
    manager of a restaurant explained why he would vote for
    Jacques Chirac. Like many voters, he doesn't like
    uncertainties and unknown territories.

    "Jacques Chirac doesn't harm anyone. He is a very good
    president for the French Republic, for foreigners. With Jean
    Marie Le Pen, we don't know. We have never heard him really."
    In rue des Rosiers, in an area of Jewish shops, the
    reactions were even stronger. Le Pen is known for his
    revisionist theories, and for saying a few years ago that 'gas
    chambers were a detail of history'.

    "Never, I could never have imagine such a thing. He is a
    fascist, a neo-Nazi. I don't understand. I don't understand
    why French have done that. Furthermore, Jospin is not even
    number 2, he has been completely ousted. I can't understand,
    and find it appalling. I don't understand. Maybe it's due to
    the problems with insecurity, but this is a problem involving
    Chirac, so I don't understand why he has been re-elected. He
    is not the one who will change this."
    France has long regarded itself as a role model for a
    multicultural Europe. While dismay rippled through France's
    Jewish and Muslim communities, the largest in Europe, Le Pen
    switched his focus on Monday to Europe in the hope of tapping
    a vein of disaffection with European Union integration and
    anger at France's perceived decline in a global world.


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