News Digest

French PM warns far-right could win 2017 presidential vote

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says the far-right Front National (FN) party could win the next presidential election in 2017, warning their policies would be a “disaster” for the country. Speaking to French television channel iTele, Valls said the FN could win an “unprecedented” percentage of the vote in upcoming local elections on March 22 and 29. The opposition right-wing UMP party is forecast to win 29% in the first round of the local elections, just ahead of the FN which is credited with 28% of the vote.

I am scared for my country, I’m scared that it will crack in the face of the Front National. Whatever happens, we have to have a much bigger turnout to make sure that the FN’s score is lower.

Manuel Valls, warning that the party’s policies — including leaving the euro and the Common Agricultural Policy — would spell disaster for France

The left-wing Socialist Party (PS) of Valls and President Francois Hollande are expected to perform poorly in the local elections, but the prime minister said he would “without any doubt” be staying in his job after the vote.