France’s Man to Take on the Far Right

12/4/16
 
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by Tara John,

from TIME Magazine,
12/1/16:

François Fillon became France’s center-right presidential candidate on Nov. 27 after winning the Republicans’ party primary and is now considered the main rival to far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the 2017 elections. Here’s what to know:

ECONOMIC LIBERAL
He was Prime Minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012 and is a pro-E.U. free-market evangelist. He idolizes Britain’s Margaret Thatcher and has enraged labor unions with plans to end the 35-hour workweek.

SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE
The father of five has vowed to ban adoption for gay couples and voted against same-sex marriage, and is opposed to abortion and surrogacy.

RIGHTWARD SHIFT
Fillon has called for curbs on immigration and for an alliance with Russia to fight “Islamic totalitarianism.” Co-opting the far right’s rhetoric has worked, so far–the latest polls show him ahead of Le Pen–but in a time when populist outsiders are insurgent, his establishment pedigree may put him at a disadvantage.

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