it looks probable despite being in the lead in the first round, marie lepen could emerge from the second and final rounds empty handled. >> how significant are these elections? >> the elections in themselves and the regions in themselves, the he regional councils don't have that much power. they have budget for funding cult you have and for funding voluntary organizations, but they don't have any say on important policies like security off immigration which of course are the two big themes of the national front. if anything, the elections are being seen as an interesting taking the temperature of the french political climate, because these are the last elections that will take place across the country before the presidential election ins april, 2017. people are looking to these elections to give at least some kind of potus of the way things are going. it looks as if france is moving from a two party system to a three party system with the national front party actually being a mean stream political force here. >> the far right's strong showing in france's regional polls is widely seen as

. >>> the international front party led by marie lepen caused a stir by winning the largest share of the vote in the first round. this round suggestion the party is likely to win control of france's 13 regions. now the far right's strong showing in france's regional polls is seen as a response to response to november attacks in paris. 132 people were killed. jonah hull reports on the impact of those attacks. >> the isil attacks in paris that targeted sports fans, concert goers and dangers happened a month ago, a month in which life has changed dramatically. >> i think the world is only going to become more dangerous as a result of things that are happening and that's the consequence of the fact that islamic state has become so strong and jihadism has become so strong. >> it was friday the 13th and eight attackers opened fire randomly with several detonating suicide vests. all were european citizens. >> there's an umbilical cord between the wars that are raging in iraq and european security. you have radicalized limited networks in the heart of europe. isis could not have carried out

. >>> the national front party in france led by marie lepen won the largest share of the vote in the first round. a higher turnout and tactical voting is expected this time, meaning the party will struggle to turn its early lead into solid gains. the parties that got more than 10% in the first round are eligible to participate in sunday's contest. the national front secured 28% have the vote, leading six of france's 13 regions. the president francois hollande's socialist party urgedding tactical voting. it's withdrawn candidates from two regions and urged leftwing supporters to back nicholas sarkozy's republicans who have a chance to keep the far right out. it's not the first time the national front has done well in the first round of voting in france. is there any prediction of what turnout is likely to be this time? >> well, we already know that it has been higher already in the second round of voting than it was actually at the end of voting last week. at 5:00 local time, it's three hours before polls closed in big cities. more than 50% have the electorate cast their votes. that w

marie lepen dropping to third place.ed in almost half the regions just one week ago. >>> history was made in saudi arabia this weekend, the country holing its first elections open to women. 19 women have been elected. al jazeera has the story. >> the doors have opened to a new era in saudi public life with two milestones reached, women gaining the right to vote, and to stand as candidates in local elections. >> i feel very happy that king salman has given us this opportunity to vote. now we are equal to men. >> the journey to gender equality has been a slow one. so has the overall pace of political reform. the monarchy often applies to literal interpretation of islamic allow and saudis have voted in just three local elections to choose councils that are the only elected body in the kingdom. >> i want to see the woman to be more involved in every institution, in the government and the private sector. ok? to be part of the planning, part of the execution, she has to be there. >> behind the scenes, saudi women have powerful