Fillon Beats Sarkozy in Primaries

The French have voted former President Nicolas Sarkozy out of their presidential race, instead voting for his ex-prime minister, Francois Fillon, to fill the top spot in the first round of the center-right presidential primary on November 20. Out of the seven candidates running for the center-right’s nomination, Francois Fillon and Alain Juppé earned the top spots, with 44 percent and 28 percent of the votes respectively. They will again be opponents in the second round of elections, to be held on November 27, that will most likely determine the candidate running in France’s national presidential election in April.

Sarkozy’s elimination came as a surprise to many who believed he was leading a strong campaign and had a shot at being president again. Yet, his journey out of the political shadows has been short lived, and his chances at reelection have been completely lost with Sunday’s humiliating loss. “It is time for me to try to a life with more private passions than public ones,” Sarkozy said to reporters on Sunday before announcing that he would back Francois Fillon in the upcoming runoff against Juppé.

Francois Fillon, who was personally appointed to be Prime Minister of France by Sarkozy in 2007, has been criticized as neither new nor unique on the French political scene by fellow candidate Emmanuel Macron. A social conservative with economically liberal ideas, Fillon’s successful campaign can be attributed in part to his work in appealing to the rural regions of France. His socially conservative foundation attracted the Catholic vote, and his economic proposals pushing for a less bureaucratic France attracted a younger demographic and professionals from the metropoli.

“Fillon managed a sort of synthesis between a Juppé, judged too liberal in terms of traditions, and a Sarkozy, judged… too [unambitious] on the economic side,” said French political writer, reporter, and novelist Olivia Elkaim.

Fillon’s success can also be attributed to the divides in the left-wing party and the extremism of the far right that are pushing voters to choose center-right candidates in an effort to keep Le Pen out of office. Marine Le Pen, a contentious figure in the upcoming elections, represents the far right with her nationalistic party Le Front National (NF). Many fear that Marine Le Pen could be the next president, as France has apparently lost interest in whether candidates speak the truth or not.

Francois Fillon is expected to win November 27’s final round, as polls indicate he will garner 56 percent of the votes. Meanwhile, French voters are still waiting on the current socialist president, Francois Hollande, to announce whether he will be aiming at a second term in the Elysee Palace.