Mainstream candidates delivered a stinging setback to France’s far right in the second round of regional elections on Sunday, thwarting its hopes of winning control of a region for the first time and slowing its momentum ahead of the presidential contest next year. Follow the election as it happened on our liveblog.
- Marine Le Pen's far-right RN was soundly defeated in the key southern battleground of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, its main hope of winning control of a region.
- The far-right leader blamed "unnatural alliances" between foes for keeping her party out of power.
- It was a good night for incumbents from the mainstream conservative and left-wing parties, with no region in mainland France changing sides.
- President Emmanuel Macron's ruling LREM party suffered another drubbing, a week after several of its candidates were knocked out in the first round.
- Turnout was once again woeful, with an estimated 66% of registered voters shunning the polls.
