GEORGE REYNOLDS,
Sir, - Lara Marlowe correctly concludes that many people actually wanted to vote for Le Pen, and that it was not some artefact of the fragmented Left vote. There is a very simple explanation. In the minds of many French people the Left is correlated negatively with images of strikes and demonstrations, while the Right is correlated positively with law and order issues. Anyone fed up with both problems and wanting change would naturally gravitate towards Le Pen without necessarily condoning his xenophobic ambitions. - Yours etc.,
GEORGE REYNOLDS, Annamoe, Co Wicklow
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A Chara, - It is ironic that anyone should condemn the policies of Jean-Marie Le Pen, whilst also arguing against proportional representation (David Giles, Letters, April 25th). The alternative "first past the post" electoral system is based on the principle that the largest group in society (not necessarily a majority) have the right to wield absolute power, to the exclusion of all other groups. I suspect that this is a principle which Monsieur Le Pen would enthusiastically endorse. - Is mise,
VINCENT RIORDAN, Drummossie, Inverness, Scotland