- Title: Polls open in second round of French conservatives' primary
- Date: 27th November 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF VOTING OFFICE HALLWAY LEADING TO VOTING ROOM SIGN READING (French): "VOTE" PEOPLE GETTING BALLOTS INSIDE POLLING STATION MAN SHOWING IDENTIFICATION CARD TO PRIMARIES VOLUNTEER/WOMAN DROPPING BALLOT PEOPLE INSIDE POLLING BOOTH WOMAN COMING OUT OF POLLING BOOTH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCOIS FILLON SUPPORTER, DENISE, SAYING: "I'm voting for Fillon because I think he's the one who will more firmly, more wisely and more radically take on the changes we need. That's it." (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCOIS FILLON SUPPORTER, XAVIER, SAYING: "From the moment you have a fight in a party, people inevitably have to express themselves and there are disagreements that occur. But what I hope is that the time between now and the presidential election will allow the party to get back together." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRIMARY ELECTIONS VOTER, ANNE-MARIE, SAYING: "No it didn't really worry me (Fillon's tough measures) because I thought that anyway he wouldn't be able to implement his programme exactly because he would have to then put it together with other elements of the right. I thought, at least, in the beginning it was good to be very radical." PEOPLE TAKING THEIR BALLOTS AS THEY ENTER POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCOIS FILLON SUPPORTER, JEAN, SAYING: "I think I'm going to vote for Fillon and I'm voting for him because he's younger, he can do two mandates and because what he plans to do, despite being a bit difficult and a bit painful, is a necessary purge. He needs to be given the time." PEOPLE TAKING THEIR BALLOTS AS THEY ENTER POLLING STATION PEOPLE INSIDE VOTING STATION WHERE FRANCOIS FILLON WAS SET TO VOTE NUN VOTING PEOPLE AT REGISTRATION TABLE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR BALLOTS PLACES INSIDE BOX MORE OF PEOPLE AT REGISTRATION TABLE MORE OF PEOPLE GIVING THEIR BALLOTS TO PRIMARIES VOLUNTEERS
- Embargoed: 12th December 2016 09:24
- Keywords: Francois Fillon Alain Juppe presidential primary Les Republicains conservative right-wing centrist
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A7XIRR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former prime ministers Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe go head-to-head on Sunday (November 27) 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.
Voting opened at more than 10,000 polling stations across France at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and polls will close at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT). The first results may emerge within an hour and a half of polls closing.
Some of the early voters expressed support for the frontrunner.
"I'm voting for Fillon because I think he's the one who will more firmly, more wisely and more radically take on the changes we need," Paris resident Denise said.
"I think I'm going to vote for Fillon and I'm voting for him because he's younger, he can do two mandates and because what he plans to do, despite being a bit difficult and a bit painful, is a necessary purge. He needs to be given the time," another resident, Jean, said.
Many French citizens view Sunday's Les Republicains primary contest as a proxy for next spring's presidential election.
Pollsters say the winner will be favourite to enter the Elysee palace, with the ruling Socialists in turmoil and the anti-establishment National Front historically disadvantaged by France's two-round system. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
