In southern France, an ex-conservative leads far right quest for regional power

Thierry Mariani, candidate for presidency of Provence-Alpes-Cotes-d'Azur (PACA) region, part of French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party ticket, walks distributes campaign flyers to residents at a local market ahead of the second round of the French regional elections in Aix-en-Provence, France, June 22, 2021. Picture taken June 22, 2021. REUTERS/Noemie Olive

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) - With a long career in mainstream politics behind him, Thierry Mariani, who wants to secure the first ever regional election win for the far right in France, is in his element as he canvasses for support in Aix-en-Provence.

His shirt sleeves rolled up, his manner laid back, Mariani pitched himself as the man who would put more security agents on trains and in high schools, spend more money on the pandemic recovery and involve the public more in decision making.