Le Pen records worst election result

Paris: Jean-Marie Le Pen recorded his worst result of four presidential elections on Sunday. But the veteran far-right leader has no intention of retiring gracefully.

Le Pen, 78, failed to come close to repeating his staggering surge into the second round that shocked France five years ago. But he was defiant last night despite coming a poor fourth.

"I must have been mistaken: the French are very happy. The proof is that they just re-elected the parties that have been in power and are responsible for the situation of France. I am afraid that the euphoria will not last long," he said.

Five years ago with his claims of doomsday threats to French life from North African immigration he knocked out the Socialist incumbent prime minister, Lionel Jospin - an electoral "earthquake" which led to massive nationwide demonstrations and saw him soundly defeated by Jacques Chirac in the second round.