France's Juppe says is best candidate to stop far-right after first round of primary

Record ID: 78122

  • Title: France's Juppe says is best candidate to stop far-right after first round of primary
  • Date: 20th November 2016
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS GATHERED IN JUPPE HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2016 22:29
  • Keywords: Alain Juppe conservative primary Nicolas Sarkozy Francois Fillon election voting France
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0055991GSN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:French presidential hopeful Alain Juppe cast himself as the best candidate to stop the far-right National Front party from winning the election in May after he qualified on Sunday (November 20) for the second round of the conservatives' nomination contest.
    Juppe will fight it out with former premier Francois Fillon, who came a surprise first in the first round of the conservative primary, ahead of the Bordeaux mayor and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
    "I think that, more than ever, the people of France need to come together, to turn the page on a disastrous presidential term which has weakened our country, and to block the National Front who will lead us into the worst possible future," Juppe told supporters at his Paris headquarters.
    According to results based on 8,709 polling stations out of a total 10,229, Fillon was seen gathering 44.1 percent of the votes, Juppe 28.2 percent and Sarkozy 21.0 percent, with the gap with Sarkozy widening from the first partial results.
    "A battle of opposing ideas is beginning. It starts tomorrow. This first round was a surprise, next Sunday - if you want it, as I do - will be another surprise," Juppe said.
    Supporters chanted "we're going to win!" and sang the French national anthem after his speech.
    Fillon, 62, long considered as a political has-been and trailing Juppe and Sarkozy in opinion polls, was the unexpected frontrunner of Sunday's vote.
    A Juppe supporter said the 71-year-old's lead in the polls had not helped him in Sunday's vote, while another said he united a wide range of people from across the political spectrum.
    "For me, Francois Fillon is a Sarkozy, he shared Sarkozy's policies for five years, so I don't want that. I will make sure Alain Juppe wins this second round," another Juppe supporter said.
    The runoff between Juppe and Fillon will take place on November 27.
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