Angela Merkel: Right-wing electoral victories are 'remarkable and regrettable'
| Berlin
German Chancellor Angela聽Merkel聽says the rise of right-wing populists in the weekend's European elections is "remarkable and regrettable." She says the best answer is to focus on policies that create jobs and improve competitiveness.
In one of the most prominent upsets, the far-right National Front topped polling in neighboring France.聽Merkel said in Berlin on Monday that it's important to win back voters 鈥撀燼nd "that goes for France, too."
She added, "A course directed toward competitiveness, growth, and jobs is the best response to those who are disappointed and have now voted the way we all didn't want."
Merkel's聽conservatives were the strongest force in Germany but Alternative for Germany, a year-old party that calls for southern European countries to leave the euro-zone, took 7 percent of the vote.
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