Front National are still only going to manage at best a second round run at the presidency. I expect them to win the regionals though. The Republican Party is going to focus on identity issues, so it may make up ground at the expense of their centrist factions. The biggest risk for 2017 is if a large part of the French Left decides to stay home in the second round, in the event of a Sarkozy/Le Pen run-off. But even so I think too many people have too much to lose by voting in a questionable party.
Would agree with the 1st sentence, though you never know what can happen within 1,5 years, French like surprises...
And well, making the 2nd run wouldn't be 'at best', you never know what consequences this could have beyond the electoral results.
'FN winning regionals' doesn't mean much, it's a matter of how many regions you can have in the end, mainly 3 regions in which they can do something, and 1 they could very well get.
But for sure the result of those last elections after what happened would be, well, interesting, who knows what it could give...
And there's still 18 and 25 days till that, sometimes can look like an eternity...
A poll yesterday said that 84% of French approved the new security measures, even if that tightens freedom, can give a little indication on the mood.
