France election: Le Pen 'to cast blank vote' in run-off

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Ms Le Pen told a mass rally in Paris she could back neither President Nicolas Sarkozy nor the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande and told supporters to follow their conscience.

Ms Le Pen won 6.5 million votes - 17.9% - in the first round of the election.

The latest opinion polls suggest Mr Hollande has a six to 10 point lead over Mr Sarkozy.
...
"On Sunday, I will vote blank," she told the rally. "I have made my choice. Each of you will make yours."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17906203

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I don't know how much people who vote for her follow her lead, but it looks good news for Hollande, overall.

[pampango]

1. Good to hear. Thought Sarkozy might be desperate enough to strike a deal with Le Pen.

Le Pen dodges chance to endorse Sarkozy

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has told supporters that she won’t endorse either Nicolas Sarkozy or Francois Hollande in Sunday’s second round presidential election.

Her endorsement had been viewed a possible game-changer after her National Front party won 18 percent of the vote in the election first round.

“Who out of Nicolas Sarkozy or Francois Hollande will be most subservient when carrying out austerity politics? Who will obey to the letter the orders of the troika: the IMF, ECB, European Commission?

“On the 6th May, it will not a president who will be elected but a simple worker of the European Central Bank,” cried Le Pen to cheers from the crowd.

http://www.euronews.com/2012/05/01/le-pen-dodges-chance-to-endorse-sarkozy/

[Mass]

2. It is not surprising and she had being saying since April 22

This is largely a political calculus. If Sarkozy is beaten (and he will be), she can try to pose herself and her party as the leading movement in the right.

More interesting will be what François Bayrou will do. Logically, he should call to vote for Hollande given the RW turn Sarkozy took, but who knows and we will not know before Thursday.

[harmonicon]

3. If I remember correctly, Bayrou didn't back anyone last time, so I don't know why he would now. nt.