France election: Nicolas Sarkozy rules out alliance with Marine Le Pen

Yesterday, Mr Sarkozy drew the line at forming alliances with the FN in
forthcoming legislative elections in which the far-Right could be kingmaker
in more than 350 constituencies. FN founder Jean-Marie Le Pen’s 22 – year
granddaughter Marion is to run for a seat.

“We need to speak to the 18 per cent who voted for Marine Le Pen,”
Mr Sarkozy said.

“But I don’t want ministers from the National Front. I’ve never wanted
that. The 18 per cent who voted National Front don’t belong to me, but it’s
my duty to address them,.”

“What Mr Hollande has not understood is that we should speak to
everybody. There will be no deal with the National Front, no ministers for
them, but I have to take them into account and not feel I have to hold my
nose.”

Mr Sarkozy needs around three quarters of the far-Right vote to stand a chance
of victory after losing 27.2 per cent to 28.6 per cent to Mr Hollande in the
first round.

An Ifop poll out yesterday suggested he stands to lose the run-off by 10
points, with Mr Hollande on 55 per cent.

Centrist François Bayrou, who came fifth last Sunday, launched a vitriolic
attack on Mr Sarkozy’s tactic yesterday, saying : “This race on one’s
belly for National Front themes is humiliating.

“To pretend that the imbalances in the social accounts are down to
immigrants is to renounce half a century of social progress in France.”

Speaking in a press conference that is unprecedented between two presidential
rounds, Mr Hollande denounced what he called his rival’s “race since
Sunday to catch what he calls voters, but also the themes, words, phrases”
of the far-Right.

“I don’t know if it will pay but if did it would cost (France) dear”.

Mr Hollande earlier this week spoke of the need to reach out to those who
voted FN, saying many were expressing “social anger”.

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