The departmental elections first round yesterday were a triumph for Sarkozy's UMP and UDI colleague parties, with over 35% of the votes nationally, well ahead of the Front National (26%) and the PS (21%). This morning all parties are claiming that they did better than expected - the PS emphasising that its partners PRG and "divers gauche" push the left vote up to 36%. What is sure is that despite their vote the FN cannot claim to be the "first party" of France as Marine Le Pen has been claiming since the European elections.
The second round next Sunday will give a clearer idea of who will govern each department, with the right likely to take the majority.
Locally in Tarn & Garonne the FN was the largest party with 27% but out going president Jean-Michel Baylet and his "binome" woman partner, Christiane Le Corre (PRG) are the only two elected from the first round. Varen supported mainly the PS, Verfeil the UMP, St Antonin the PS.
In the Tarn the FN on top, but the UMP/UDI barely 5%, the centre right vote going to "divers droite". Locally in Cordes the PS topped the polls; in St Martin Laguepie the "divers" came out ahead of the PS and the 27 voters of Montrosier managed to vote for 6 different candidates.
In Aveyron the "divers droite" and UDI topped the polls, with 16 councillors already elected.
Locally in Villefranche de Rouergue it was the "divers" well ahead of the PRG and FN.
In Najac the UMP leads the way, ahead of the PS and Greens (who polled 22%). Very liberal in Najac with not a single FN voter.
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