by Han Qian
PARIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- In the year 2016, France saw a succession of unexpected political events, with some even belittling all polls and political analysis.
These include the triumph of Francois Fillon at the right-wing party primary, the elimination of candidacy for French President Francois Hollande and former President Nicolas Sarkozy for the 2017 presidential election.
The first big surprise was Fillon won the primary for the Elysee Palace. He was prime minister when Sarkozy held the presidency.
Three days before the first round of the primary, a poll credited Fillon with 22 percent of voting intentions, compared with 29 percent for Sarkozy and 36 percent for Alain Juppe.
However, Fillon won the first round with 44.2 percent of the vote, ahead of Juppe's 28.5 percent and Sarkozy's 20.6 percent.
Coming to the second round, Fillon took lead and became the candidate of the right-wing parties in the upcoming presidential race.
The new candidate dropped hints to sneer at the polls and analysis which had underestimated him since the every beginning.
"Hope has manifested itself strongly throughout France, belying all predictions. This hope comes from free, thoughtful people, people who demand to be be listened and trusted," said Fillon during his speech after the victory.
The other major unforeseen event was the elimination of Sarkozy in the first round of the conservative primary.
Even if the polls predicted Juppe slightly ahead, nothing foreshadowed Sarkozy's exit. Given his political experiences, Sarkozy had every chance to win the second round, against Juppe who was judged as being too close to "center left."
However, voters decided otherwise, leading to the withdrawal of the former head of state from the political arena.
"It is now time for me to live a life with more private passion and less public passion," declared Sarkozy later.
The renunciation of Hollande in the upcoming presidential election was also surprising.
While the polls placed him behind the candidate of the right and the National Front party, Holland announced on Nov. 30 his decision to give up his candidacy for the presidential election.
In addition to the above unexpected events, the year 2016 also witnessed the rise of the National Front and former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, which brought more uncertainty to the 2017 presidential election.
All these are factors that make some people believe everything is possible now, and that Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front party, would become another Donald Trump in France.
However, according to local political analysts, the opinions that the progress of the National Front in France is undeniable and would make Le Pen the French version of Trump, are actually an intellectual shortcut and a misunderstanding of the political culture of the two countries.
