National Front rise in France

[Shamhnan Insir]

It would appear that National Front (FN) have made significant gains in the first regional elections in France, their leader Marine Le Pen having gained more than 40% of the vote in her region and with the party achieving 30% overall in the polls.
LINK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35018849

Whilst President Hollande has received much higher approval ratings for his response to the Paris attacks in November, it hasn't boosted his party who lag behind the FN. The nationalist policies and anti-EU stance of the FN has garnered it much of that support, gaining outright wins across the regions.

What do you think this means for the future of France? Is this a reactionary blip on the political radar screen in response to the horrendous attacks that Paris witnessed last month, or is this a more permanent and ominous swing into far-right territory? If so, do you think we could be seeing another crack beginning in the old heartlands of the EU?


IMO, it's early to say whether or not the FN will continue their rise. Much of the EU, especially France is still on high alert, and their is also still anger. The shit-fest of handling refugees this year wore into the bonds of the EU and have created this sentiment and nationalism. I'd hate to see nationalistic notions born out of spite and aggression gain a stronger foothold in Europe.

[Kraylandia]

Well, that's democracy for you.

[Shamhnan Insir]

Well, that's democracy for you.

True. But you've got to remember that democracy is a shit way of doing things. Guillotines are the way forward...

[ErVaReAn rEpUbLiC]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Le Pen won the French presidential election, right after the Donald takes it.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Le Pen won the French presidential election, right after the Donald takes it.

I foresee a hilarious back and forth between those two.

[Shamhnan Insir]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Le Pen won the French presidential election, right after the Donald takes it.

Aside from horrific love-children, it would make for an interesting development in Atlantic diplomacy.

[Kraylandia]

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Le Pen won the French presidential election, right after the Donald takes it.

I foresee a hilarious back and forth between those two.

Wouldn't they be best friends though? They're both batshat insane far-right wingers.

[Esternial]

Noooooooooo!

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I foresee a hilarious back and forth between those two.

Wouldn't they be best friends though? They're both batshat insane far-right wingers.

Marine Le Pen is serious. Trump? Who knows. I often think Trump's bid for POTUS is nothing more than a joke that got out of hand.

[Costa Fierro]

Not that I agree with what the Front National stand for, but this is pretty understandable given what France has recently experience. France still has massive issues with its Muslim population not being fully integrated into French society even into second and third generations.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Well, that's democracy for you.

True. But you've got to remember that democracy is a shit way of doing things. Guillotines are the way forward...

Ah yes the so called prize of the Enlightenment. The era of Romanticism proved humans are inherently irrational.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Not that I agree with what the Front National stand for, but this is pretty understandable given what France has recently experience. France still has massive issues with its Muslim population not being fully integrated into French society even into second and third generations.

I won't lie, it is a tad worrying that nationalism has taken the turn it has in France. Nationalism is a double edged sword.

[Kraylandia]

Not that I agree with what the Front National stand for, but this is pretty understandable given what France has recently experience. France still has massive issues with its Muslim population not being fully integrated into French society even into second and third generations.

I couldn't agree more.

[Annihilators of Chan Island]

Dear, oh dear.

Historians! Grab yer pens and papers cos this'll be something for the history books!

[Saiwania]

I am hoping that this is the dawn of a permanent shift toward the right within French politics, it goes to show that there is hope yet for France. I am just anticipating when the Front National can get into office. It couldn't be sooner. I am thrilled at the prospect.

[North Dragoria]

This is a great day for France.
Le Penn will make France great (And French) again!

[Vassenor]

This is a great day for France.
Le Penn will make France great (And French) again!

More to the point: How?

[Shofercia]

It would appear that National Front (FN) have made significant gains in the first regional elections in France, their leader Marine Le Pen having gained more than 40% of the vote in her region and with the party achieving 30% overall in the polls.
LINK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35018849

Whilst President Hollande has received much higher approval ratings for his response to the Paris attacks in November, it hasn't boosted his party who lag behind the FN. The nationalist policies and anti-EU stance of the FN has garnered it much of that support, gaining outright wins across the regions.

What do you think this means for the future of France? Is this a reactionary blip on the political radar screen in response to the horrendous attacks that Paris witnessed last month, or is this a more permanent and ominous swing into far-right territory? If so, do you think we could be seeing another crack beginning in the old heartlands of the EU?


IMO, it's early to say whether or not the FN will continue their rise. Much of the EU, especially France is still on high alert, and their is also still anger. The shit-fest of handling refugees this year wore into the bonds of the EU and have created this sentiment and nationalism. I'd hate to see nationalistic notions born out of spite and aggression gain a stronger foothold in Europe.

It's the response to EU bureaucrats thinking that they know France better than Frenchmen. It has little to do with the attacks, to which Hollande responded really well. But a single response isn't going to make up for years of EU mismanagement.

[Costa Fierro]

Not that I agree with what the Front National stand for, but this is pretty understandable given what France has recently experience. France still has massive issues with its Muslim population not being fully integrated into French society even into second and third generations.

I won't lie, it is a tad worrying that nationalism has taken the turn it has in France. Nationalism is a double edged sword.

Well, when you consider Jean Marie Le Pen made it to the runoffs during the presidential election in 2002(?), the idea of a nationalist president in France doesn't seem that far fetched.

The problem with France is that it has a substantial Muslim population, most of whom have only lived there for the last 40-50 years. Most immigrants are first or second generation and haven't really been able to integrate into mainstream French society. France's Muslims are also disproportionately affected by poverty and crime, which further hampers their integration efforts as they're widely seen as good for nothing criminals.

[Kraylandia]

This is a great day for France.
Le Penn will make France great (And French) again!

More to the point: How?

Well, she'll do a much better job than that current cunt in power.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It would appear that National Front (FN) have made significant gains in the first regional elections in France, their leader Marine Le Pen having gained more than 40% of the vote in her region and with the party achieving 30% overall in the polls.
LINK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35018849

Whilst President Hollande has received much higher approval ratings for his response to the Paris attacks in November, it hasn't boosted his party who lag behind the FN. The nationalist policies and anti-EU stance of the FN has garnered it much of that support, gaining outright wins across the regions.

What do you think this means for the future of France? Is this a reactionary blip on the political radar screen in response to the horrendous attacks that Paris witnessed last month, or is this a more permanent and ominous swing into far-right territory? If so, do you think we could be seeing another crack beginning in the old heartlands of the EU?


IMO, it's early to say whether or not the FN will continue their rise. Much of the EU, especially France is still on high alert, and their is also still anger. The shit-fest of handling refugees this year wore into the bonds of the EU and have created this sentiment and nationalism. I'd hate to see nationalistic notions born out of spite and aggression gain a stronger foothold in Europe.

It's the response to EU bureaucrats thinking that they know France better than Frenchmen. It has little to do with the attacks, to which Hollande responded really well. But a single response isn't going to make up for years of EU mismanagement.

This is something that has been brewing for at least the past 10-15 years.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

Not that I agree with what the Front National stand for, but this is pretty understandable given what France has recently experience. France still has massive issues with its Muslim population not being fully integrated into French society even into second and third generations.

This is a common problem in Europe generally. I think it's completely understandable that we're seeing discontent about how immigration is being handled in Europe transform into support for far-right parties. I'm not convinced that those parties are offering any practical, workable solutions, and that might not even be important for the voters, since I'm sure that for many of them this is just about signalling dissatisfaction.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I won't lie, it is a tad worrying that nationalism has taken the turn it has in France. Nationalism is a double edged sword.

Well, when you consider Jean Marie Le Pen made it to the runoffs during the presidential election in 2002(?), the idea of a nationalist president in France doesn't seem that far fetched.

The problem with France is that it has a substantial Muslim population, most of whom have only lived there for the last 40-50 years. Most immigrants are first or second generation and haven't really been able to integrate into mainstream French society. France's Muslims are also disproportionately affected by poverty and crime, which further hampers their integration efforts as they're widely seen as good for nothing criminals.

The nationalism bent doesn't help in the integration department, though. And that is what is worrying.

[Costa Fierro]

It's the response to EU bureaucrats thinking that they know France better than Frenchmen. It has little to do with the attacks, to which Hollande responded really well. But a single response isn't going to make up for years of EU mismanagement.

One of they key things the Front National has been vocal on is immigration and especially what they call the "Islamification" of France. Support for the FN will almost certainly have increased since the attacks in Paris but FN's beef against Muslims has been going on for decades.

[Costa Fierro]

More to the point: How?

Well, she'll do a much better job than that current cunt in power.

Hollande isn't a cunt. He's just...a nobody. Unlike Sarkozy or Chirac, who have been mired in post-term corruption scandals, Hollande hasn't done anything wrong.

He also really hasn't done anything to fix the French economy, which doesn't really surprise me.

The nationalism bent doesn't help in the integration department, though. And that is what is worrying.

It's fairly typical of French politics.

This is a common problem in Europe generally. I think it's completely understandable that we're seeing discontent about how immigration is being handled in Europe transform into support for far-right parties. I'm not convinced that those parties are offering any practical, workable solutions, and that might not even be important for the voters, since I'm sure that for many of them this is just about signalling dissatisfaction.

It's not just immigration, although many far-right parties do have it as a primary issue. Pretty much all of those like Front National are Euro-skeptic and see the current Eurozone crisis, the recession and the issues with Greece as a clear sign that the EU is doomed to failure or is a failed experiment in European unity.

Which, given how the Eurozone mostly operates under a single currency with each member state operating a different monetary policy, it's kind of easy to see the point they're making.