The rise of the French far-right: a challenge to European stability?
Hugo Richards
The French legislative elections in July 2024, as well as the European Parliament elections this year, have highlighted a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape, characterized by a notable increase in support for far-right party National Rally [Rassemblement National – RN], with the party accumulating 37.1% of the vote in the second round which won them 142 seats in the National Assembly, up from 89 seats in 2022. The origins of the far-right in France can be linked to Jean- Marie Le Pen’s antisemitic, xenophobic and ultra-nationalistic party, the National Front [Front National], founded in 1972. Initially, the party struggled to find support and acceptance but in the 1980s and 1990s, the radical right-wing party began to make its mark in the wake of mass immigration and growing unemployment, promising to return France to the ‘monocultural glory’ of its past. Le Pen himself won 15% of the vote in the first round of presidential elections in 1995 which many believe was due to a vein of racist sentiment among the French. Despite some support across the country, the National Front remained a fringe party and struggled for acceptance due to its racist reputation and its ties with figures who supported the collaborationist Vichy government during the Second World War. However, since 2011, under the leadership of his daughter Marine Le Pen, the party has undergone evolution and rebranding; it has also attempted to infiltrate the mainstream by toning down the racist and overly authoritarian rhetoric. The party even expelled the founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2015, since they believed his extremist statements were damaging to the new, ‘moderate’ image of the party. For example, he called Fodé Sylla, head of the anti-racist group SOS- Racisme, a ‘big, mad zebu’ and he likened the Holocaust to a ‘ detail of history ’ (Jack 2000) . Marine Le Pen’s strategy of ‘dédiabol isation ’ (de-demonization) has transformed RN into a significant force in French politics, broadening the party’s appeal , and has significantly increased the party’s support over the past decade. Other factors that have played a role in the party’s recent success include the new leader of the RN, Jordan Bardella. The 28-year-old has helped to distance the party from its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, normalizing the image of the populist party. The young politician frequently speaks of his upbringing in social housing in the poor immigrant suburb of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, which helps to make him an appealing and relatable candidate to the working class and unemployed (Vandoorne 2024). Moreover, viewed as a gifted communicator, he has skilfully used social media channels such as TikTok to amass a following of 1.5 million, expanding the appeal of the RN particularly among the young, through a range of content from statesmanlike addresses about the cost-of-living crisis to rowdy campaign videos where he is seen downing beer. The current French President, Emmanuel Macron, has also contributed to the recent growth in popularity of the RN, as Macron has introduced controversial measures such as raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64. This has fuelled strikes and protests that highlight the frustration felt by many citizens, who perceive Macron’s government as being out of touch wi th their everyday struggles.
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