Front National 39 Percent

In the first round of the municipal election at Hénin-Beaumont yesterday, the Front National, with Marine Le Pen in the no. 2 spot on the ticket, scored 39.34%. The excellent reportage by David Servenay and Audrey Cerdan suggests that the FN has taken a new turn in its approach to campaigning, dropping controversial historical references and attempting to appeal to voters as the incarnation of a new generation of "nationalist" (and not xenophobic or racist) sentiment. The FN had seemed to be on the decline. Will it find a new lease on life in the Nord? And if the account here is correct, why is the PS apparently taking the threat so lightly?

More here and here.