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French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Thursday called on the right-wing parties to "do everything" to avoid the election of candidates from the far-right Front National party (FN) which targets large win in local runoff.
"Republicans should do everything so that it won't be possible for a National Front mayor to be elected in a town in France ... Otherwise, it will be a failure for the Republic because we know that the National Front thrives on confusion and fears, but it did not provide solution," Ayrault told Radio J.
"I'll be the first to say that everything must be done to prevent the election of a mayor from the FN. We'll see how the UMP will be able to do so and if it will respond to my call," he added.
With an anti-immigration policy and abandonment of the euro currency, the FN hopes to see 1,000 to 1,500 candidates elected to city councils, an expected sharp gain compared with 60 won in the last municipal elections in 2008.
With improving poll numbers, the FN will likely see opportunities from the deeply-divided Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) since his boss Nicolas Sarkozy lost 2012 presidential election.
Furthermore, the right-wing main opposition party was sickened by several rows over corruption allaegation and power abuse of its main figures.
At the Left camp, the ruling Socialist Party (PS) suffered from setback after President Francois Hollande failed to rein the country's finances and bring more jobs to millions of jobseekers.
Next Sunday, French voters will choose their mayors and members of municipal councils. The final round was scheduled for March 30.
