<p>The by-election that has transfixed France last Sunday ended with a razor-thin difference of 863 votes between the socialist winner and his National Front rival. The socialists can claim their first electoral victory since 2012. And the National Front is now clearly a major player and not a fringe party anymore. In the meantime, the opposition conservatives are showing serious signs of tensions, with one of its main leaders booed in public by party militants. </p><br /><br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en
