- Title: Parisians react to Fillon's suprise breakthrough in primaries
- Date: 21st November 2016
- Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PARIS STREETS WITH PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, AMELIE, SAYING: "I was surprised to see so many people turn out for Fillon when I thought that it would be a fight between Sarkozy and Juppe. So a bit surprised. But I think that in the end people need change and that's what happened yesterday." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, DAVID, SAYING: "It's a surprise but at the same time it isn't one because I think there was a real need for change - we saw that in the United States and there's maybe an impact in France - so it's not a bad thing, a bit of change, we'll see, Fillon, Juppe, Fillon seems to be in a good position." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, OLIVIER, SAYING: "I'm a bit surprised because the trend was more with Juppe, and the dynamic was with Fillon in the end and he profited from it. But I think it's more of a penalty vote against the third person, Nicolas Sarkozy." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, LUC, SAYING: "I'm especially surprised by the extent of the score by Fillon who was expected to arrive in third position but jumps to the lead. His (Fillon's) discourse is very much on the right as well. Juppe, who was my candidate was more uniting, more in the centre. Fillon, although he is quite liberal, on a social level, it's not a step-backwards but it's different." PARIS STREET WITH PEOPLE COMING OUT OF METRO PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) FRANCOIS FILLON, WHO GARNERED HIGHEST SCORE IN FIRST ROUND OF CENTRE-RIGHT PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, APPROACHING PODIUM TO GIVE SPEECH AFTER PARTIAL RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED
- Embargoed: 6th December 2016 09:13
- Keywords: Election Primaries Fillon Juppe Sarkozy
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00359E08CN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Parisians took stock on Monday morning (November 21) of the stunning victory by former prime minister Francois Fillon in the first-round of primaries that will determine the conservative presidential ticket.
Fillon finished with only six points short of the 50-percent threshold needed in the first round, and ousted ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy from the race.
Another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe, garnered less than 30 percent.
"I was surprised to see so many people turn out for Fillon when I thought that it would be a fight between Sarkozy and Juppe...But I think that in the end people need change and that's what happened yesterday," a Parisian, Amelie, said.
Any French voter can take part in the run-off next Sunday (November 20), and the views of pollsters and commentators have been much confounded in popular votes worldwide this year - not least Sunday's (November 20) vote in which Fillon did far better than expected.
"It's a surprise but at the same time it isn't one because I think there was a real need for change - we saw that in the United States and there's maybe an impact in France - so it's not a bad thing, a bit of change," another Paris resident, David, said.
"I think it's more of a penalty vote against the third person, Nicolas Sarkozy," Parisian Olivier said.
With his socially conservative and liberal, pro-business platform, Fillon lacks the broad appeal of the more centrist Juppe.
Fillon's proposals for market-oriented reforms - including scrapping the 35-hour working week and raising the retirement age - go beyond what his challenger advocates for a country where the state remains a powerful force in the economy, even for the centre-right.
"His (Fillon's) discourse is very much on the right as well. Juppe, who was my candidate was more uniting, more in the centre. Fillon, although he is quite liberal, on a social level, it's not a step-backwards but it's different," Luc, also a Parisian, said.
A snap poll by Opinionway showed Fillon winning next Sunday's head-to-head contest against Juppe with 56 percent of support. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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