CRI听力:Far-right National Front Denied First Place in French Local Polls

Exit polls show former French President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP and its allies are leading in the first round local elections in France.

The far-right National Front has come in second while incumbent President Francois Hollande's ruling Socialists sit in third.

The county-level elections have been focused mostly on issues such as schools and welfare.

However, observers are suggesting this could be a litmus-test for the next Presidental elections in France in 2017.

Current polling is suggesting the anti-immigration National Front might be making gains toward leader Marine Le Pen becoming French President in 2017.

Le Pen says the local elections are a good step in building a grassroots base for her party.

"I don't have a prediction for this election. I won't get involved in that on the day of the vote. We will see, and once again the objective is to demonstrate that the National France is well established in the councils and not just a force capable of rallying millions of French people in a national election."

The National Front is a far-right party which has generated support from conservatives in France, courting anti-Islam sentiment.

The party is also campaigning on withdrawing from the European Union and the euro.