Voters May Shun Today’s Polls in Protest

France’s conservative government might face a protest vote against economic reforms and high unemployment in regional elections, possibly boosting the extreme-right National Front.

Pollsters say a record number of French could decide not to vote today in anger over Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin’s efforts to fill large budget holes with cutbacks in areas such as healthcare, research and education.

A poll in the daily Le Monde said 70% of those surveyed recently wanted to “show their discontent” with the government in the voting for regional assemblies, a two-round poll with a runoff March 28.