Sarkozy knocked out of French polls
FORMER PRIME MINISTER FRANCOIS FILLON’S STUNNING UPSET IN FRANCE’S RIGHTWING PRIMARY SET UP A RUN-OFF DUEL WITH ANOTHER EX-PREMIER, ALAIN JUPPE, THAT IS WIDELY EXPECTED TO DECIDE THE COUNTRY’S NEXT LEADER. FOLLOWING ARE PROFILES AND THE POLICIES OF THE TW
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy crashed out of the presidential election on Sunday, suffering a humiliating defeat in the first round of the rightwing primary.
Mr Sarkozy was beaten into third place after a stunning upset by Francois Fillon, who served as his Prime Minister, with the veteran Alain Juppe finishing second.
The surprise result puts Mr Fillon in a commanding position for next Sunday’s second round of a contest that is widely expected to decide France’s next leader.
With the French leftwing in disarray, the rightwing candidate is tipped to face — and beat — far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off next May. However, after a wave of populism saw British voters choose to leave the European Union and swept Donald Trump to the White House, no-one is writing off Ms Le Pen’s chances.
In a major upset, Mr Fillon took more than 44 per cent of the vote compared to around 28 per cent for Mr Juppe, a former Prime Minister and foreign minister. Mr Sarkozy’s hopes of winning back the presidency were crushed as he scored just 21 per cent, according to near-complete results.
Mr Sarkozy endorsed Mr Fillon and said he would now withdraw from political life.
FRANCOIS FILLON
The pro-business, reform-minded Mr Fillon, 62, has campaigned as a compromise candidate, with more bite than the moderate Mr Juppe but less punch than the pugnacious Mr Nicolas Sarkozy.
ALAIN JUPPE
Mr Juppe, 71, has campaigned as a moderate and a sage who will unify a country divided by a deep economic malaise and a wave of jihadist attacks.