The Frontrunner For French President Is Against Gay Marriage, Adoption—Even Legalizing Homosexuality

Sunday was the presidential primary for France’s center-right Les Republicains party.

Going into the race, former prime minister Francois Fillon was third behind ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy and Bordeaux mayor Alain Juppé.

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But Fillon snagged a surprise victory, taking more than 44% of the vote in the first round.

He will now face Juppé in a ruff-off vote next Sunday—whoever wins will go up against and Marine Le Pen, leader of the ultra-right wing National Front, and the candidate for the reigning Socialist Party, in next year’s general election.

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Unlike Juppé, frontrunner Fillon opposed civil unions and voted against same-sex marriage, which came to France anyway in 2013.

“François Fillon owes us a real clarification,” wrote the feminist group Les effronté-e-s in a statement. “[He] has an impressive CV in the fight not only against equal rights but also against homosexuality.”

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Indeed, Fillon opposed letting same-sex couples adopt or use artificial insemination, telling a Catholic group, “a child is always the fruit of a father and mother.”

He even voted against decriminalizing of homosexuality back in 1982.

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While the political system is different, there’s no denying France is turning right. And Fillon aligns nicely with Donald Trump and the GOP.

Like Trump, Fillon admires Vladimir Putin and says the West needs to improve relations with Russia.

And his business plans would sure make Republicans happy: He wants to push back the retirement age, slash benefits—as well as 600,000 public sector jobs—and get rid of France’s notorious 35-hour-work week.

“This approach is likely to trigger massive strikes,” writes Time. “but Fillon is ready to battle the unions.”

Funny, our last Republican president didn’t get along with the French.