French far-right National Front party mayor of Henin-Beaumont, Steeve Briois. Three years after they sent the scandal-hit Socialist Party packing here, residents of the town are still smitten with Mayor Steeve Briois, the grandson of a miner. Develter was among over 1,000 people who attended the mayor's New Year reception on Sunday, when Le Pen was guest of honour. In the 2012 presidential election Le Pen topped the first-round vote in Henin-Beaumont with 35 percent. They point to a "Migrant-free Town" vote organised by Briois last year -- without the town having been asked to take in any of the migrants pouring into Europe -- as proof of a hardline agenda.

Source: The Local February 02, 2017 07:18 UTC