France was today expected to elect its first truly Thatcherite leader of the right, with Francois Fillon in pole position to take on the far-right Front National. A Fillon victory could usher in what some are calling a "Conservative revolution" via a mixing of economic liberalism with social conservatism, the likes of which France has never seen. Crucially, Fillon has enticed a normally quiet part of the French electorate - the ageing, socially conservative bourgeoisie from its provinces - to take an interest in the debate. Patrick Buisson, an electoral analyst, said a Fillon victory would be a sea change for the French right. A Fillon win would limit the ability of Marine Le Pen to make progress among the right-wing electorate "and that is a major development".

Source: New Zealand Herald November 27, 2016 16:09 UTC