Fights started outside French town halls tonight as they came under the control of the far-right National Front for the first time following dramatic gains in local elections.
Exit polls suggested that the anti-immigration and anti-Europe party had roundly beaten the governing Socialists in a number of key constituencies.
‘Demonstrators are trying to get at the Front representatives and starting fights,’ said a police spokesman in Frejus, the picturesque Mediterranean town which is hugely popular with British tourists .... http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Jean-Marc Ayrault admitted that a vast swing to the right, including the extremist National Front, was down to him.
‘There is no getting away from it – this vote is a defeat for the government,’ said Mr Ayrault. ‘I take my part of the blame.’
He handed his resignation to President Francois Hollande, whose two years in power have seen him become the most unpopular head of state in recent French history .... http://www.dailymail.co.uk
