Primary contenders Fillon and Juppe cast their votes in second round

Record ID: 77096

  • Title: Primary contenders Fillon and Juppe cast their votes in second round
  • Date: 27th November 2016
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 27, 2016) (AGENCY POOL) FILLON LEAVING POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2016 11:58
  • Keywords: Francois Fillon Alain Juppe presidential primary Les Republicains conservative right-wing centrist
  • Location: PARIS AND BORDEAUX, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS AND BORDEAUX, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0035A7XWZR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE - THIS EDIT CONTAINS A CLEAN VERSION OF MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IN EDITS #7064 AND #7065
    Former prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe go head-to-head on Sunday in a runoff vote for France's centre-right presidential nomination, with the winner likely to face a showdown against a resurgent far-right in next year's election.
    Opinion polls show Fillon, a social conservative with a deep attachment to his Catholic roots, going into the race as the clear favourite after stunning his centrist challenger with a massive surge in support just before the Nov. 20 first round.
    Fillon and Juppe headed to their respective polling stations simultaneously.
    Fillon voted in the seventh district of Paris. Juppe, accompanied by his wife, cast his ballot in Bordeaux, where he is mayor.
    Many French citizens view Sunday's Les Republicains primary contest as a proxy for next spring's presidential election.
    "I would like France to awaken, for the future generations. Because right now we are not doing so well," a senior voter said.
    "We need to mobilise in order to keep our social system as it used to be," Paris resident Michel Maldric said.
    Scrambling to regain momentum, Juppe, 71, a soft-mannered moderate, has attacked the "brutality" of his rival's reform programme and says the Paris lawmaker lacks credibility.
    "I have no regrets, it's a beautiful campaign... no bitterness. I have done what was needed to be done and I am very proud. We will win tonight," Juppe said.
    Voting opened at more than 10,000 polling stations across France at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. The first results may emerge within an hour and a half of polls closing.
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