Analysts warn against too much extrapolation onto a nationwide scale from the results of the regional elections, which choose the heads of France's 13 mainland regions from Brittany in the northwest to the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region in the southeast.But there was cross-party concern over the turnout for last week's polls, which were shunned by 66.72 per cent of voters - a record in modern France.
According to a poll published Thursday, just 36 per cent of voters plan to cast their ballots on Sunday."France is sulking," the Le Parisien newspaper said.The first-round results put Le Pen's National Rally ahead in just one region, PACA, a major disappointment after polls showed a possible breakthrough in several areas.
Gaining control of a region for the first time would be a huge boost for Le Pen as she seeks to convince voters that the RN - which she has reformed and rebranded since taking over from her firebrand father Jean-Marie - is a serious party of power. Mariani has been accused by critics of being an admirer of authoritarians like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Prime Minister Jean Castex warned last week that a Mariani victory would be"very serious" for the country.
"2022: What if it wasn't them?" asked the headline in the left-wing Liberation newspaper over a picture of Macron and Le Pen.