France’s future is in Le Pen’s hands

IN setting a record score for the far right in Sunday’s French presidential election, Marine Le Pen has set the stage for her National Front to try and break into parliament at a legislative election in June.

Le Pen came third with 18.2%, becoming a kingmaker for the May 6 runoff between Socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande and conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy. She was already looking ahead to further electoral battles.

“This first round is the start of a vast gathering of right-wing patriots,” Le Pen told supporters at her Paris headquarters. “The battle of France has only just begun.”