National Rally (France)
France’s Far-Right Surges Into Parliament, and Further Into the Mainstream
PARIS — In 2017, after the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her allies won only a handful of seats in parliamentary elections, she blamed France’s two-round voting system for shutting her party out of Parliament despite getting over one million ballots cast in its favor. “We are eight,” she said bitterly, referring to the […]
Know More
Are Traditional Political Parties Dead in France?
PARIS — Since the 1950s, France’s traditional left- and right-wing parties have provided three-quarters of the country’s presidents and nearly all of its prime ministers. Parliament has also swung from one to the other in alternating waves of pink, the color associated with the Socialist Party or its predecessors, and blue, which represents the main […]
Know More
Inside Le Pen Territory as France Votes in a Runoff Election
“If women are wearing them just for their religion, OK,” Mr. Gérard said, “but I think in general it’s a provocation.” Maryvonne Duché, another firm supporter of Ms. Le Pen, was seated at a table close by. She started work at 14 as a sales clerk, before spending 34 years on the production line at […]
Know More
As Marine Le Pen Moves Closer to French Presidency, Putin Ties Persist
PARIS — When Europe’s far-right leaders gathered in Madrid in January, they had no problem finding unity on the issues they hold dear, whether cracking down on immigrants or upholding “European Christian ideals.” But as Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border, they were divided on one issue: the threat posed by President Vladimir V. […]
Know More
Macron and Le Pen Trade Punches in Pivotal French Election Debate
“The Yellow Vests told you they wanted more democracy and they were not heard,” she said. “I think the biggest problem at the end of these five years is the disunion, the division, that you have caused among the French people, the feeling of contempt they have, the feeling of not being listened to, of […]
Know More
Macron Sets Out to Build a ‘Dam’ Against Le Pen. Can It Hold?
PARIS — A day after Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, emerged as his challenger for the final round of France’s presidential election in less than two weeks, President Emmanuel Macron immediately set about on Monday to build the “dam.” Dams are the mainstream French voters who, time and again, have put political differences aside […]
Know More