Macron, Le Pen fail to gain traction in French regional elections

Meanwhile, conservatives surged ahead in the poll, a dress rehearsal for next year’s presidential vote.

Le Pen’s far-right party stumbled, Macron’s centrists crashed and incumbent conservatives surged ahead in the first round of France’s regional elections that were dominated by security issues and a record-low turnout. Sunday’s vote, which was meant to be centred on local concerns like transportation, schools and infrastructure, turned into a dress rehearsal for next year’s presidential vote, as would-be presidential hopefuls seized on the regional campaign to test ideas and win followers. Macron’s rivals on the left and right notably denounced his government’s handling of the pandemic.