France's Flailing Economy Boosts Far Right

None of that, however, will take her as far as she wants to go -- to the French presidency in 2017. So far, the French have backed her where the stakes are lower. In the latest municipal election last year, the National Front won the mayoralties of 11 towns out of a total of 36,000, though that was presented as a historic win at the time, too. The current regional elections won't have much effect on voters (which explains the low turnout): The regions only handle matters such as public transport, high schools and art and culture subsidies. The National Front won't be able to build up much of a governance record by the presidential election in April and May 2017. The votes it will get then will most likely be protest ones, and these only make sense while the establishment parties continue to treat the economy as if it'll miraculously fix itself with minimal action on their part.