The second round of the French parliamentary elections began today, with the far-right National Rally party poised to become a dominant political force in France after decades of political exclusion. The party, historically led by the Le Pen family, has seen a dramatic rise in support, although it is unlikely to secure a comfortable majority.
Founded in 1972 by former soldier Jean-Marie Le Pen, the National Rally, originally known as the Front National, has undergone significant transformations. From its early days of drawing support from veterans of the Algerian War and French collaborators from the Vichy regime, the party has evolved under the leadership of Marine Le Pen, who took over from her father in 2011.
Marine Le Pen has worked diligently to rebrand the party, distancing it from its racist and anti-Semitic past. This effort included changing the party's name to the National Rally in 2018. The party's focus has also shifted over the years, with a significant emphasis on issues related to Islam and Muslim immigrants.
The National Rally's electoral journey has been marked by several milestones. In 1986, the party won its first seats in the National Assembly. By 2002, Jean-Marie Le Pen's strong performance in the presidential elections, where he secured 16.86% of the votes, sent shockwaves throughout France. Despite losing to Jacques Chirac in the run-off, it was a clear indication of the party's growing influence.
Under Marine Le Pen's leadership, the party has continued to gain traction. In the 2017 presidential elections, she advanced to the second round but was defeated by Emmanuel Macron. However, the party's persistence paid off in the 2024 European Parliament elections, where Jordan Bardella led the National Rally to victory, defeating Macron's party and prompting early legislative elections.
The rise of the National Rally has not been without controversy. The party's growing influence has sparked fears and debates among cultural critics and writers. Laurent Mauvignier, author of 'Stories of the Night,' has expressed concerns over the normalization of extremist views, a sentiment echoed by other intellectuals like Michel Houellebecq and Thomas Piketty.
The cultural response to the National Rally's ascent highlights a broader unease about the future of France and the West. Writers like Florence Aubenas and Maylis de Kerangal have documented the societal shifts and the increasing polarization driven by the party's rhetoric. The convergence of political communication and narrative strategies, as seen in media portrayals like 'Baron Noir,' underscores the complexities of modern political discourse.
As France faces this pivotal moment, the outcome of the parliamentary elections will determine the extent of the National Rally's influence. The party's rise reflects a fundamental change in the country's political landscape, one that has been decades in the making and continues to shape the future of French society.
