Marine Le Pen's National Rally makes the French presidential run off election

Just like her dad did a few years back. Now called the less offensive National Rally, it's still very much the Front National with new marketing.

Le Pen will now go head to head against President Macron in the final round of voting. She won't win; people who wouldn't have bothered to vote will turn in in droves to vote against Le Pen, as happened with her father. However, the rise of the far right across Europe is a serious issue that mustn't be ignored, and the fact another Le Pen has reached the final round of voting is demonstrative of underlying tensions in French society which need to be analysed and addressed. Why is one of the richest, best educated and most cosmopolitan countries in the world experiencing a resurgent far right? There needs to be serious discussions about this worrying phenomenon, and not just in France.

She won’t win, because the normal people will turn out and hold their noses for Thatcherite Macron.

The largely unreported reality is that if you counted up the splintered Left vote which is shared amongst the brilliant Paris mayor Ann Hildago, old firebrand Melenchon, and various other dumbass leftist parties that couldn’t bury their differences they’d have about 27% which would make this imaginary Unified Left party the joint biggest force with Macrons En Marche party.
It’s not so much that the French are being more racist and right wing, it’s just that the right wing have their stuff together better than the Left do.
Same old ‘peoples front of Judea’ nonsense.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

She won’t win, because the normal people will turn out and hold their noses for Thatcherite Macron.

The largely unreported reality is that if you counted up the splintered Left vote which is shared amongst the brilliant Paris mayor Ann Hildago, old firebrand Melenchon, and various other dumbass leftist parties that couldn’t bury their differences they’d have about 27% which would make this imaginary Unified Left party the joint biggest force with Macrons En Marche party.

Same old ‘peoples front of Judea’ nonsense.

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Did Melenchon finish third? French politics seems to be abandoning the centre for the hard left and hard right. Once again the Socialist Party didn't make the final round.

worrying this far right individual is getting so many votes, wtf is wrong with le french ;(

Marine Le Pen’s party orders leaflets showing her with Putin to be ‘binned’ | The Independent

During the 2017 presidential elections, Ms Le Pen pledged to take a softer stance on Moscow if elected, and spoke out against economic sanctions imposed by the West.

The far-right party, previously known as Front National, has also benefited from financing from Russia after taking out a loan from a Russian bank in 2014 worth roughly €9 million. A court settlement in 2020 revealed that it will continue to be repaid until 2028.

yup, we have that in the UK as well, another repugnant political party

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

Did Melenchon finish third? French politics seems to be abandoning the centre for the hard left and hard right. Once again the Socialist Party didn't make the final round.

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• Macron comes first with 28.1% of the vote while Le Pen receives 23.3%, according to national broadcaster France Télévisions
• Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon comes in third place with about 20% of the votes

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

• Macron comes first with 28.1% of the vote while Le Pen receives 23.3%, according to national broadcaster France Télévisions
• Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon comes in third place with about 20% of the votes

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Melenchon did better than expected, but if he’d been less of an idiot with the smaller left wing parties and formed a broad green/left coalition , he’d be easily in the run off.

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

• Macron comes first with 28.1% of the vote while Le Pen receives 23.3%, according to national broadcaster France Télévisions
• Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon comes in third place with about 20% of the votes

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Indeed, the flight to the extremes. Gone are the days when the centre-right Gaullists and centre-left Socialist Party dominated the system.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

Melenchon did better than expected, but if he’d been less of an idiot with the smaller left wing parties and formed a broad green/left coalition , he’d be easily in the run off.

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Sectarianism between the left is an age old problem.

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

Sectarianism between the left is an age old problem.

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It would be lovely if we could just not **** it up everytime :agree:

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

worrying this far right individual is getting so many votes, wtf is wrong with le french ;(

Marine Le Pen’s party orders leaflets showing her with Putin to be ‘binned’ | The Independent

During the 2017 presidential elections, Ms Le Pen pledged to take a softer stance on Moscow if elected, and spoke out against economic sanctions imposed by the West.

The far-right party, previously known as Front National, has also benefited from financing from Russia after taking out a loan from a Russian bank in 2014 worth roughly €9 million. A court settlement in 2020 revealed that it will continue to be repaid until 2028.

yup, we have that in the UK as well, another repugnant political party

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Is the French far right really that much different to the Tory party in the UK that basically morphed into the BNP and Brexit parties by popular demand?

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Is the French far right really that much different to the Tory party in the UK that basically morphed into the BNP and Brexit parties by popular demand?

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No.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Is the French far right really that much different to the Tory party in the UK that basically morphed into the BNP and Brexit parties by popular demand?

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Both swilling with Russian cash.

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Imagine having to vote for the tories or the BNP.

Anne-Sylvaine Chassany
@ChassNews
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France: Melenchon voters are key in the runoff - last time they gave Macron the benefit of the doubt, now they deeply dislike him, even think he is as toxic as Le Pen (for different reasons) / and wow 1/3 of Pecresse voters back Le Pen, another third abstain, via ⁦
@FT
Attachment 25775

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

Melenchon did better than expected, but if he’d been less of an idiot with the smaller left wing parties and formed a broad green/left coalition , he’d be easily in the run off.

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

Indeed, the flight to the extremes. Gone are the days when the centre-right Gaullists and centre-left Socialist Party dominated the system.

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i'm just astonished at how much support a fascist can gain in France, it's just horrible :bitchy:

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Is the French far right really that much different to the Tory party in the UK that basically morphed into the BNP and Brexit parties by popular demand?

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like others have replied, non :(

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Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7

Imagine having to vote for the tories or the BNP.

Anne-Sylvaine Chassany
@ChassNews
·

France: Melenchon voters are key in the runoff - last time they gave Macron the benefit of the doubt, now they deeply dislike him, even think he is as toxic as Le Pen (for different reasons) / and wow 1/3 of Pecresse voters back Le Pen, another third abstain, via ⁦
@FT
Attachment 25775

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i realise there must be a long list, but what exactly is Macron doing so wrong in france that such a big percentage on the left could possibly go to the far extremes of a fascist....bearing in mind i really don't pay much attention to events in france, except for football

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

i realise there must be a long list, but what exactly is Macron doing so wrong in france that such a big percentage on the left could possibly go to the far extremes of a fascist....bearing in mind i really don't pay much attention to events in france, except for football

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They rightly hate him. One of his idols is Thatcher, so that gives an idea of his right wing politics. Majority of left will reluctantly back him because of Le Pen, others can't stomach it and abstain. No idea about left voting Le Pen. It a higher % of the youth that are voting her, mostly in areas with high immigration.

Disenfranchised poor being swayed by rubbish probably

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

i realise there must be a long list, but what exactly is Macron doing so wrong in france that such a big percentage on the left could possibly go to the far extremes of a fascist....bearing in mind i really don't pay much attention to events in france, except for football

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The left hate him because hes a Thatcherite who has decimated industrial areas like she did, is taking big cuts to pensions and the railways, which the French are rightly proud. Last time i was there Marseille was literally ground to a halt by strikes and the smell of tear gas was everywhere. I was being handed flyers mocking the transport minister for trying to replicate 'the English nightmare of Brittish Rail privitisation' which i found quite funny, since i was trying to travel by train at the time. Le Pen is at least promising to spend big on social programmes in France, Macron is taking his axe to everything.

The far right hate him because he's modern and progressive on social issues and pro Europe.

Its not that the French working class are more willing to vote fascist parties than their British or American counterparts, they are just going to LePen in the same way as the Red Wall constituencies went to Boris and the US Rust Belt went to Trump. Ignore the concerns of the poor and Hilary Clinton, Francois Mitterand's progeny and New Labour will get a kicking by the voters. Starmer, take note.

If Jl Melenchon didnt fall out with all his left wing collaborators, and had a broad coalition it would be a sinmple runoff between Left and Right and the far right would be left in 3rd place. Absolutely pathetic tactics have left the majority of French who vote broadly Left unrepresented for a generation.

…and todays Rwanda announcement demonstrates why the U.K. far right doesn’t do well; those voters are well catered for by the New Tory Party.

We can't afford them here but we can afford 2 million a year for them to be removed to Rwanda? I genuinely am feeling that this government is worse than Thatchers was. They are heartless, shameless and without principles. Self serving greedy narcissists clinging to power by whatever grubby means necessary.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

…and todays Rwanda announcement demonstrates why the U.K. far right doesn’t do well; those voters are well catered for by the New Tory Party.

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Their policies cover far right aspirations = they are the far right.

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The French left won't let a fascist win.

Will they?

Will they?

Le Pen vows to hold a referendum on reintroduction of the death penalty


:Ummm:

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

The left hate him because hes a Thatcherite who has decimated industrial areas like she did, is taking big cuts to pensions and the railways, which the French are rightly proud. Last time i was there Marseille was literally ground to a halt by strikes and the smell of tear gas was everywhere. I was being handed flyers mocking the transport minister for trying to replicate 'the English nightmare of Brittish Rail privitisation' which i found quite funny, since i was trying to travel by train at the time. Le Pen is at least promising to spend big on social programmes in France, Macron is taking his axe to everything.

The far right hate him because he's modern and progressive on social issues and pro Europe.

Its not that the French working class are more willing to vote fascist parties than their British or American counterparts, they are just going to LePen in the same way as the Red Wall constituencies went to Boris and the US Rust Belt went to Trump. Ignore the concerns of the poor and Hilary Clinton, Francois Mitterand's progeny and New Labour will get a kicking by the voters. Starmer, take note.

If Jl Melenchon didnt fall out with all his left wing collaborators, and had a broad coalition it would be a sinmple runoff between Left and Right and the far right would be left in 3rd place. Absolutely pathetic tactics have left the majority of French who vote broadly Left unrepresented for a generation.

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thanks for explanation, and talking about HIM Keir Starmer’s tough talk on crime leaves Labour looking like a bad Tory tribute act (msn.com)

i think the journalist also writes articles for the spectator but i think this is a good article, it's good because it's what i've been saying on here since Starmer got the gig :greengrin


The direction in which Starmer has taken the Labour Party since he took charge has represented the absolute worst kind of centrism, where a desire to ape the popularity of the opposition results in becoming indiscernible from them. It’s the kind of shallow politicking that leaves voters in the position of either remaining with a known quantity, or switching lanes to follow a bloodless tribute act.

anyway, sorry took it off-topic

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Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7

They rightly hate him. One of his idols is Thatcher, so that gives an idea of his right wing politics. Majority of left will reluctantly back him because of Le Pen, others can't stomach it and abstain. No idea about left voting Le Pen. It a higher % of the youth that are voting her, mostly in areas with high immigration.

Disenfranchised poor being swayed by rubbish probably

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oh my :lips seal i've suddenly taken a serious dislike to him now....not as much as Le Pen, but

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

oh my :lips seal i've suddenly taken a serious dislike to him now....not as much as Le Pen, but

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Yep lesser of two evils unfortunately and you can see why the left vote him through gritted teeth. Agree with Starmer, very centre maybe slightly in the right. You can see by how the media treats him compared to Corbyn, that they would be happy with him in power. Very establishment and a grimm vote choice down south

Le Pen going to withdraw French financial support for Ukraine if elected. Talk about when folk show themselves, believe them 🙄
Putin's useful idiot.

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Originally Posted by LewysGot2

Le Pen going to withdraw French financial support for Ukraine if elected. Talk about when folk show themselves, believe them 🙄
Putin's useful idiot.

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You’d like to think that’s a big big nail in her coffin. The French can’t surely be thinking that’s a positive thing?

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Originally Posted by Jones28

You’d like to think that’s a big big nail in her coffin. The French can’t surely be thinking that’s a positive thing?

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It all just completes the picture. Putin has been forced to make his move early, he's been funding right wing parties throughout Europe and the US in the hope that they would get elected and stifle resistance against his invasion. They're all in cahoots, Le Penn, Orban, Farage, Trump and Co. I'm more convinced than ever he's dying.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

It all just completes the picture. Putin has been forced to make his move early, he's been funding right wing parties throughout Europe and the US in the hope that they would get elected and stifle resistance against his invasion. They're all in cahoots, Le Penn, Orban, Farage, Trump and Co. I'm more convinced than ever he's dying.

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Oh I think you’re absolutely correct there: this is a legacy building attempt.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

It all just completes the picture. Putin has been forced to make his move early, he's been funding right wing parties throughout Europe and the US in the hope that they would get elected and stifle resistance against his invasion. They're all in cahoots, Le Penn, Orban, Farage, Trump and Co. I'm more convinced than ever he's dying.

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Absolutely spot on with that.

Macron well ahead according to early projections

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Originally Posted by Willis1875

Macron well ahead according to early projections

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58.2% for Macron in the first projection after the polls closed, they're normally very accurate.

Never in doubt.
Melenchon for PM now please.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

58.2% for Macron in the first projection after the polls closed, they're normally very accurate.

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Terrible news for the Spectator magazine who have been cheering on Le Pen for months now.


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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Terrible news for the Spectator magazine who have been cheering on Le Pen for months now.


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The Spectator loves Putins paid for poodles.

What is in it for the owners and journalists.

Owned by Fred Barclay BTW, who also owns The Telegraph which also took millions from Putin.

Secret Services should be all over these people.

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Hate Macron but the lesser of two evils. A weird system France have

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

Never in doubt.
Melenchon for PM now please.

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Is that likely? I'd like to think so, but is it likely?

As for the future, the left needs to screw the nut. Some of thrm haven't moved on while the world has turned under their feet. Some folk just need to accept that their politics is never going to win.

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Originally Posted by Glory Lurker

Is that likely? I'd like to think so, but is it likely?

As for the future, the left needs to screw the nut. Some of thrm haven't moved on while the world has turned under their feet. Some folk just need to accept that their politics is never going to win.

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The Left did really well, have you followed the votes cast? the only problem is the eternal one of their vote being split across feuding parties :dunno: thankfully those who voted JLM in the first round either held their nose and voted Macron in the 2nd or abstained.

A Putin poodle conceding? She obviously didn't get the memo.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

The Left did really well, have you followed the votes cast? the only problem is the eternal one of their vote being split across feuding parties :dunno: thankfully those who voted JLM in the first round either held their nose and voted Macron in the 2nd or abstained.

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That's what I meant. There's folk on the left who would rather stay pure to their beliefs than compromise. That's the case everywhere of course, but there are elements in the left in France that haven't shifted for decades. That's a lot of the reason the left vote wasn't big enough to get to the run off. Again.

I'm not advocating Blairism (definitely not!). But going in the huff because pensions need to reflect life expectancy isn't a good look.

She was never going to win, but 42 per cent of the vote is very alarming. The rest mustn't be complacent, Le Pen has now made two consecutive run off elections, and her vote share has increased. The far right is on the rise in many European countries just now: Hungary, Poland, Germany, Austria, Denmark. The issues the far right are exploiting in such a toxic way need to be addressed with logic and moderation, and it's the responsibility of the left, centre and moderate right across Europe to re-claim the debate; talk about the benefits of immigration, the EU and tackling climate change, for example. They are constantly on the defensive and fail to make the positive case, IMHO.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

Never in doubt.
Melenchon for PM now please.

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I like much of what he says, but his anti-EU position is problematic.

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

I like much of what he says, but his anti-EU position is problematic.

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I don’t agree with him on that either, but his presence as PM doesn’t really bring it much closer in real terms, it just means that the justified concerns of the French working class about the cost of living crisis, executive pay and cultural integration get addressed from a left wing instead of a hard right perspective. But he needs to forge some alliances.

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

The Left did really well, have you followed the votes cast? the only problem is the eternal one of their vote being split across feuding parties :dunno: thankfully those who voted JLM in the first round either held their nose and voted Macron in the 2nd or abstained.

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I think "really well" is stretching it. Melenchon did well, the PS had pretty much the ultimate shocker, they got less than the Communists!

Melenchon + Greens + 4 other leftists = 32%

Macron in the middle (albeit he leaned right, especially economically in his first term) = 28%

Le Pen + Zemmour + 3 other right wingers = 40%

Macrons party have taken a bit of a battering in the elections France's Emmanuel Macron set to lose majority - projection - BBC News


great for the left-greens


disappointing to see the far right pick up so many though

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

Macrons party have taken a bit of a battering in the elections France's Emmanuel Macron set to lose majority - projection - BBC News


great for the left-greens


disappointing to see the far right pick up so many though

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It’s tremendous news that the Left have actually formed a United front. Shame it’s too late for big parts of the French health service and train system which has been battered by Macron following Thatcher’s lead 35 years late. And he’s supposed to be ‘modern’.

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

Macrons party have taken a bit of a battering in the elections France's Emmanuel Macron set to lose majority - projection - BBC News


great for the left-greens


disappointing to see the far right pick up so many though

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The scale of the far right intake will have probably surprised even Le Pen. She must be ecstatic.

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Originally Posted by He's here!

The scale of the far right intake will have probably surprised even Le Pen. She must be ecstatic.

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Yes, they were expecting around 30-40 seats, so 89 greatly surpasses expectations. It underscores the growth of the far left and far right in France, with voters abandoning the centre.

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

Yes, they were expecting around 30-40 seats, so 89 greatly surpasses expectations. It underscores the growth of the far left and far right in France, with voters abandoning the centre.

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True, although the media's portrayal of Macron as a 'centrist' is beyond ridiculous. He's a rampant Thatcherite. Your choice is basically Left Vs Extreme Right Neoliberal Vs Extreme Nasty Right anti liberal.