National Front leads in regional election

The anti- European and nationalist Front National (FN) Marine Le Pen is the comfortable leader in the first round of the French regional elections Sunday.

If confirmed, the result would be a massive boost for Le Pen, who hoped that her party after the first round of elections would stand at the top. On December 13, however, there is a second round.

FN could count on nationally 30.6 percent of the vote, according to an exit poll by Ifop- Fiducial. That's more than the center-right coalition around former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on 27 percent. As anticipated, the current Socialist coalition of President Hollande in third place with 22.7 percent of the vote.