"The pink shadow" shocked the French political arena
A poll showing that far-right leader Marine Le Pen could win in the first round of next year's presidential election, beating President Nicolas Sarkozy, has caused a shock in French politics.
A poll conducted by Le Parisie, one of France's most prestigious daily newspapers, put Marine Le Pen - who succeeded her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, as leader of the far-right National Front (FN) party in January - ahead of all other candidates.
According to the poll results, Ms. Marine won 23% of the vote, 2% more than both President Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry.
Marine Le Pen took office as leader of the National Front (FN) party in January.
This is the first opinion poll in French history to show that the FN party can come first in a general election.
However, some analysts doubt the accuracy of the online poll. Internet polls are often less reliable than telephone ones, and the Le Parisien poll predicted Ms Anbry would be chosen as the Socialist presidential candidate, while the party has not yet decided on a candidate.
However, the new FN leader's lead over both Mr Sarkozy and Ms Aubry was a shock result. "Politicians are wavering between caution and panic after the poll," wrote an article on the website of daily newspaper Liberation.
Mr. Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the FN party, also caused a shock in the first round of the 2002 presidential election and only lost to his opponent Jacques Chirac in the second round of voting.
But in 2002, Mr Le Pen came second in the first round and he has never enjoyed the same high poll ratings as his daughter does now.
Marine Le Pen, 42, has proven to be a shrewd successor to her father.
Meanwhile, another poll conducted by Le Figaro newspaper last Saturday showed that support for President Sarkozy had fallen to its lowest level for a French leader since 1958. Only 22% of respondents said Mr. Sarkozy was doing a good job.
The French presidential election will take place in April and May 2012. Mr. Sarkozy is expected to run for re-election.
According to Dan Tri
