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Alain Juppe: Final campaign rally
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French Election campaign ends with National Front leader involved in Brawl
Campaigning in the French General Election has come to an official end ahead of Sunday's decisive second round of voting. The signs are that it will be a tight finish between the ruling centre right coalition and the Socialist opposition. Prime Minister Alain Juppe has already said that he will resign, and it looks increasingly likely that he'll be followed into office by a left wing government.
The leader of France's far right National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen was involved in a brawl whilst campaigning for his daughter, Marie Caroline Le Pen in the poor, outer Paris suburb of Mantes-La-Jolie.
The burly 68-year-old former paratrooper got into a shoving
match, and two people, including Socialist candidate Anette
Peulvast-Bergeal, were slightly hurt, according to the local prefect (government representative).
Le Pen denies throwing punches
"Mr Le Pen got out, caught the first person at hand who was
being pushed by the crowd -- Mrs Pleuvast. He seized her by her
blouse and threw her to the ground," the spokesman said.
Television showed Le Pen pinning Pleuvast against the wall.
Le Pen acknowledged he had "slightly pushed" individuals he
said tried to prevent him from "walking freely", but he denied
throwing any punches.
The National Front accused Pleuvast of heading "leftist
bullies" and said Le Pen's daughter would launch legal action
for violence and hampering her election campaigning.
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