Immigrants, talkshows, Russia: a typical French far-right candidate

He could be the prototype for the modern French far-right candidate: a young lawyer in a blue business suit, railing against immigration, with a past fondness for Russia.

And perhaps most usefully for this weekend's election, voters already know Pierre Gentillet as a regular fulminator on CNews, France's answer to Fox News.

CNews says it is balanced politically, but many associate it with the sort of anti-immigration, tougher-policing rhetoric that has driven the far-right National Rally (RN) to the top of polls.

Gentillet is standing for the RN in Cher, in the Loire region of central France.

On a visit to the small town of Sancoins, many recognised him from CNews where he made his name complaining about policies such as lockdown rules during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sancoins is fertile ground: far-right parties won more than 50 percent of the vote in the European election earlier this month.

Gentillet's small-screen fame is "a small boost", he told AFP as he stopped at a cafe in its picturesque square.

"In rural areas, it's the channel that people watch -- it has the tone of an older France, from the 70s and 80s."

- 'Putin-worshipper' -

Gentillet is just 33 and close to RN leader Jordan Bardella, having studied together at Sorbonne University in Paris.

He used to campaign for the traditional right-wing party (now called The Republicans) but felt they weren't radical enough, especially on immigration.

In Cher, he rails against a planned migrant reception centre.

Like many on the far right in France, he argues immigrants are bringing about "a profound change" in French identity.

"Being French is not something you should just be able to buy over the counter," he told AFP.

Gentillet is less keen to talk about his past fondness for Vladimir Putin's Russia.

He was founder of the "Pushkin Circle" in 2015, seeking closer ties between France and Russia. He travelled to Moscow -- and even Russian-occupied Crimea -- several times with other right-wing politicians.

Since Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Gentillet says "the situation has changed" and insists he has "no conflict of interest", though he still opposes sanctions on Moscow.

Some in Cher -- home to several weapons manufacturers -- are concerned.

"He's a Putin worshipper," said Gerald Hayotte, a local union organiser for the defence industry, fretting about Gentillet getting a post with access to state secrets.

For voters in Sancoins, however, the economy is more pressing.

Gentillet faces a tight three-way race against a left-wing candidate and an ally of President Emmanuel Macron, but the RN has made headway in such areas particularly with vows to slash energy costs.

Some locals are sceptical: "Where will Bardella find the money?" demands Micheline Rabreau, a retired civil servant.

But most are welcoming.

Coralie, a teacher in her fifties, promises her vote to Gentillet because rural areas "have been completely forgotten and the cost of petrol is terrible."

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