Le Pen is a wake-up call: Prodi

Le Pen's policies are "absurdities leading to hate" says EC chief Prodi

ROME, Italy -- European Commission President Romano Prodi says the shock election success of France's far-right leader Jean Marie Le Pen was a "necessary shock" that should fortify Europe.

"If it means that heads of government begin to understand the importance of a strong, guiding Europe which galvanises young people, then I agree that the French vote was a necessary shock," Prodi told the left-wing paper L'Unita.

"The fragmentation of the left has allowed the success of the National Front in France," Prodi declared.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO Far-right French presidential candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen is jeered at the European Parliament. CNN's Diana Muriel reports (April 25) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION In-depth: France Decides 2002

" Le Pen's proposals are absurdities that lead to hate," he added.

The anti-European Union, anti-immigration Le Pen won through to the second round of the presidential election in France with 17 percent of the vote.

That was enough to join President Jacques Chirac in a second-round runoff on May 5 and eliminate Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Prodi said Le Pen's victory would force the National Front leader to make his views on issues like immigration painfully clear to voters.

"It might sound strange, but in a way I am glad that Le Pen has made his line clearer, setting out a list of proposals that the French people will never accept," Prodi said.

Prodi said the strength of the united EU would form a powerful force to fight extreme right-wing sentiment.

Prodi says the EU is a "powerful force" against right-wing extremism

"Le Pen feeds on fears. To fight him we must nourish hope... enlargement, for example, represents the end of nationalism and wars in Europe," he said.

Tens of thousands of people held protests across France on Thursday for the fifth consecutive day since Le Pen won the first-round ballot.

Major demonstrations were reported on Thursday in Lyon, Strasbourg, Nantes, Brest, Lyon, Toulouse and Rouen while thousands turned out for various rallies in smaller towns across the country.

French LCI television put the total on the streets at close to 100,000, mostly students.

France's political mainstream reported large numbers joining the major parties in reaction to Le Pen's presidential poll success.