The French Right had the first round of it’s primary, high turnout.
Sarko came in third and was eliminated.
Former PM Francois Fillon came from behind with a late charge and place first, almost avoided a runoff with Former PM Alain Juppe, the frontrunner until recently.
Fillion is regarded as a little to the left of Sark I think but it sounds like he might be a little to the right on some things. He is noted as a Thatcher admirer. Juppe is on the left of the “right”, clearly worse than Sarko and Fillon.
Leftists, realizing that their candidate is likely to place third in the general election, committed mass fraud, falsely claiming to believe in the ideals of the right, so they could vote for Juppe. They were particularly afraid that Sarko had a greater chance of losing to LePen.
Fillion is now the favorite for the nomination but leftist fraud for Juppe is still a factor.
Fillion is the candidate who is not tainted by any scandal like both Juppe and Sarkozy were.
I sense the primary election was flooded with support for Fillion who is considered to be the Left side of his party and there’s a reason he is being promoted.
The most likely outcome is that Marine LePen and the candidate who wins next week’s runoff for “The Republicans”
(Les Republicans) as the “Right” is called in France will face off on May 7th next year following the April 23rd elimination round of the presidential election.
Fillion will appeal to the Socialists-Left and probably be the best candidate to beat LePen in the runoff.