Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Le Pen rises again in France

Jean-Marie Le Pen, President of the far-right National Front party in France, is profiting from economic stagnation and high unemployment in France.

In forthcoming regional elections, he could outstrip the two main parties in his Southern French stronghold and become President of the region.

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In the area of Provence - Alpes - Cote d'Azur (the traditional stronghold of Le Pen's far-right Front National party), he could beat both mainstream parties - the Socialists and the centre-right UMP - and become President of the region next March.

In the Ile de France region (Greater Paris), a recent poll gave his daughter Marine Le Pen a share of 33 percent of the vote. This could be enough for the Front National to take power in Paris.

Strategic change

After the electoral success of the National Front, the government of President Jacques Chirac concentrated on the traditional National Front issues such as immigration and crime, in an effort to reduce Mr Le Pen's influence.

But Mr Le Pen has responded with a change of strategy, softening his line on some issues to "de-demonise" the party and concentrating more on economic issues, such as the lack of reform, high unemployment and economic stagnation.

He has lost none of his opportunism, however. A 20 percent rise on cigarette taxes came into force yesterday, prompting 34,000 cigarette sellers to go on strike. Mr Le Pen immediately promised to support them.

The anti-immigration, anti-EU politician is still good for a surprise. Last year he shocked France and the World by beating socialist candidate Lionel Jospin into third place in the French elections and contesting the Presidential vote with Jacques Chirac.

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