France's Hollande had to go, far-right's Le Pen says

Record ID: 75272

  • Title: France's Hollande had to go, far-right's Le Pen says
  • Date: 2nd December 2016
  • Summary: VILLEPINTE, FRANCE (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CROWD OF JOURNALISTS STANDING NEXT TO MODEL HORSE AT EQUESTRIAN FAIR VARIOUS OF FRENCH FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY LEADER, MARINE LE PEN, SPEAKING TO EXHIBITORS AT FAIR (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY LEADER, MARINE LE PEN, SAYING: "Brave? He didn't have any choice apart from the one he took. Look at the ridiculously small number of French people who still had confidence in his policies, he was overwhelmingly rejected. So it's not about bravery, it's about clear-headedness." CROWD OF JOURNALISTS PASSING BY STAND (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL FRONT PARTY LEADER, MARINE LE PEN, SAYING: "Well with (former French prime minister, now conservative presidential candidate Francois) Fillon on one side and (current French prime minister and possible Socialist presidential candidate Manuel) Valls on the other, it's a battle of the understudies as I said. Understudies often have the same flaws as the lead, without having the slightest qualities. The leads have now been kicked out, which was the right decision on the part of the French people, now the French will have to understand that understudies pursue the same policies as the leads." VARIOUS OF LE PEN VISITING FAIR LE PEN SPEAKING TO CHILDREN AS SHE WALKS IN FAIR SITE
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2016 10:56
  • Keywords: Francois Hollande Marine Le Pen Emmanuel Macron presidential election Socialist
  • Location: VILLEPINTE AND PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: VILLEPINTE AND PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015B6Y1XJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The French far-right on Friday (December 2) said President Francois Hollande had no choice but not to run for re-election, rejecting the possibility of a campaign pitting former prime minister Francois Fillon and current prime minister Manuel Valls against each other.
    Hollande surprised the nation when he announced on Thursday that he would become the first president since 1958 not to seek re-election.
    Those in his own camp have saluted a brave decision but the far-right's leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that Hollande - whose approval ratings have slumped to single figures over recent months - had no choice.
    "He didn't have any choice apart from the one he took. Look at the ridiculously small number of French people who still had confidence in his policies, he was overwhelmingly rejected. So it's not about bravery, it's about clear-headedness," Le Pen said on a visit to an equestrian fair outside of Paris.
    Speculation is now rife that Valls could seek the Socialist party ticket and face former conservative prime minister under President Nicolas Sarkozy, Fillon, in the election.
    "Well with Fillon on one side and Valls on the other, it's a battle of the understudies as I said. Understudies often have the same flaws as the lead without having the slightest qualities. The leads have now been kicked out, which was the right decision on the part of the French people, now the French will have to understand that understudies pursue the same policies as the leads," she said.
    Opinion polls consistently show Le Pen topping the first round in the presidential election in April, but being defeated by her opponent in the knockout round in May.
    Former finance minister Emmanuel Macron, who is also seeking the presidency, said Hollande's decision was courageous.
    "It was a decision that he made in good conscience, that is mature. What the President of the Republic announced to French people this afternoon is a decision that is extremely difficult to express. He himself assessed his record, France's situation and everything he has done, and also, his relative failures and his regrets. Taking into account this context, it was a courageous decision to take and he took it," Macron said.
    The Left is deeply divided as it approaches the election. Several other Socialists, including former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, have said they will take part in the party's primaries in January.
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