World

Far-right French party's candidate scores win in local election that drew national attention

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Laurent Lopez, centre, National Front Party candidate for French local by- election, celebrates with his supporters after winning the second round of local by-elections, in Brignoles, southern France, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2013. The election in Brignoles, a small town in Provence, is drawing wide attention in France because of surveys that show the far-right Front National party’s support rising nationwide. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (The Associated Press)

Laurent Lopez, centre, National Front Party candidate for French local by- election, celebrates with his supporters after winning the second round of local by-elections, in Brignoles, southern France, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2013. The election in Brignoles, a small town in Provence, is drawing wide attention in France because of surveys that show the far-right Front National party’s support rising nationwide. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (The Associated Press)

Laurent Lopez, left, National Front Party candidate for French local by- election, celebrates with his supporters after winning the second round of local by-elections, in Brignoles, southern France, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2013. The election in Brignoles, a small town in Provence, is drawing wide attention in France because of surveys that show the far-right Front National party’s support rising nationwide. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (The Associated Press)

France's far-right National Front has won a run-off vote in a local election that drew widespread attention amid signs that the once-shunned party is gaining strength.

The by-election saw National Front candidate Laurent Lopez defeat center-right UMP candidate Catherine Delzers to win one of 43 seats on the Var department council.

France is made up of more than 100 departments; five or so departments make up a region.

A call by the ruling Socialist party of President Francois Hollande to vote for the UMP candidate fell flat, with the Lopez taking 53.9 percent of the vote.

More than half of the eligible voters stayed home.

Surveys suggesting the National Front's strength is growing ahead of municipal and European parliamentary elections have alarmed France's mainstream parties.