This is a badge of honour when you compare to the far left (Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Sandrine Rousseau, etc).
Peta Seel
2 years ago
I do wish reporters would stop describing both Le Pen and Zemmour as “far right” because in fact, neither are. Apart from her policies on immigration and security Le Pen is more far left than far right as a cursory glance over her economic policies would reveal. Zemmour is right wing as opposed to centre right, that is all.
The world today is leaning so far to the left that anyone standing up straight seems to be leaning to far right. Like going down an escalator and watching the people coming up towards you. An optical illusion.
J Bryant
2 years ago
“The deep political divisions in France would persist; they might even deepen. The real battle for the soul of France is coming — but probably not until 2027.”
That’s not surprising given the deeply divided French electorate (as summarized in this article). It appears whoever is elected President this time will not have support of a solid majority of the French people and so will constantly be on the defensive.
Recently Aris Roussinos wrote in Unherd that the overall trajectory of French politics is to the right. I wonder if the author of this article would agree with that assessment and its implications for the 2027 election?
If France is headed right what does that mean for its relationship with that other EU stalwart, Germany, which seems to be leaning left–or perhaps that is only a passing phase?
How the enemies of the West must be rubbing their hands in glee at the sight of all this division.
Does Germany, I wonder, have a “droit du sol”? It might seem a superfluous feature of the law within the context of the EU. The proposal to end the right to citizenship for those born in a country might, however, become a litmus test, in politics, in terms of France’s settled picture of itself in the coming years.
Patrick Fox
2 years ago
Well the introduction of this typical article by JL and its usual string of ad nausea platitudes on french politics has at least revealed what I have been saying for sometime now that JL is a full fledge member of this self proclaimed well to be bourgeois woke Parisian elite who despise any person outside Paris intra-muros considering them as not being able to understand and analysis for themselves because not being on an intellectual par with them. At least I will not have to come back on this in the future ( it is most certainly a great relief for you who take the time to read my comments)
Once stripped off of all JL’s unhelpful bla bla much of his plagiarisms of the analysis made in the french press cannot be argued against, so much for a personal analysis which purpose should be to bring some added value to its readers.
Pécresse being branded a traitor, turn coat and others is not the sudden making of so called “ harder- line Republicains or by Zemmouristes” triggered by her victory at the weekend. They are just repeating what the Republicains from all sides baptised her when she unsurprisingly left the party in 2019 (like Xavier Bertrand in 2017) on the pretext of renovating the french right, so much for this . She only rejoined a few weeks ago to run for the primary election. In people’s books this is a clear stigma demonstrating what you can expect from someone with such firmness of character and political stances , the ideal Macron like leader.
Her first visit to Ciotti’s village is according to JL a” shrewd move” and hence her political skills should certainly not be underestimated. Wrong once again, both Ciotti and Pécresse , under the insistence of the party’s leadership , had agreed before the second round that the winner would first visit the looser’s political seat and then that of the other 3 defeated in the first round and this in order to demonstrate the unity of the party behind the winner. Nothing of Pécresse’s exclusive demonstration of political skills rather a party decision if they want to keep the shadow of a chance to pass the presidential election’s first round.
And to finish the usual JL’s attacks on the far right and hard right but as I said in a previous comment he is indécrottable. The only conclusion anyone can draw from JL’s present written eructations is that France will only change once it rids itself of those Baldrick like racist, anti muslim, anti EU and security blood thirsty french “far” “hard”, “ extreme”, “ fascist”, “ignorant” and ……. ( please have your pick) right wingers living outside the western arrondissements of Paris and Neuilly where JL had the privilege to securely be able to walk his daughters to a catholic private school not a choice afforded by many french families living in the « banlieues ». A fine example of what is known as “La Gauche Caviar” or radish like socialists red on the outside white inside.
Last edited 2 years ago by Patrick Fox
Tom Watson
2 years ago
“The number of Les Républicains party members zoomed from 80,000 to 140,000 in the weeks before the vote as “sympathisers” handed over €30 in annual party dues. All five candidates had encouraged supporters, in effect, to buy votes. The Pécresse camp, with the enormous population of greater Paris behind it, “bought” the most (quite legally). And it undoubtedly had an impact: she beat the favourite, the former EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, by only 1,200 votes in Round One to go forward in second place to round two.”
For all the talk of Merkel and Thatcher, it’s Clinton she most reminds me of.
Considering the repeated criticisms that she is not authentic, this was a remarkably stupid comment. It just reinforces the idea that she is a manufactured product and you need to check the label for ingredients.
« two parts Angela Merkel and one part Margaret Thatcher”. She is not, she says, une dame de fer (iron lady) like Thatcher but une dame de faire (a woman who gets things done). » people should be seriously scared. How much more schizophrenic can one be ?
what strikes me is that having won the republican primary…..it is as if she won the election.
She will get creamed…..she sounds, acts like Francois Fillon and no one needs that.
If only Macron understood the need the French have to rekindle with their culture, their need for law and order all the while staying Europeans at heart, he would be elected in an armchair.
The essential fact of the Merkel years is that she got nothing done, surely. Seems like a media aimed throw away phrase that had not been thought through.
Thing is, French are not one bit interested in what foreign media have to say and Merkel has a very good image here…..as opposed to Macron who is everything she is not.
The association of powerful German economy with Merkel s image paints a picture of sturdy, reliable Germany when in fact the country is far from being rosy. Have a look at how the pandemic is managed, people queuing to be vaccinated and having then to run to the pharmacy to get a QR code. The level of digitalisation in Germany is pathetic, roads and bridges will be as marrode Brücke oder Strassen described and in many places they are.
This schwarz null obsession on the budget is like us sitting on a pile of cash and refusing to repair the roof, buckets lying on the floor.
As to Thatcher……I’ll hold by bile only to remark that the Falkland war was very very gutsy.
No way Mrs Precresse would have the guts to such a statement. As to Merkel, she sat comfy in Berlin leaving the dirty job in Mali to the French.
Macron will be re-elected in the end because he will just appear as the least pathetic option……what a prospect.
In total agreement – both schizophrenic and synthetic, it suggests a person with no real sense of self. It also bothered me that she chose two foreign female politicians as her role models. This is a deeply stupid choice that borders on unpatriotic. It also has a touch of US-style woke identity politics that many, like me, find contemptible and nauseating. Couldn’t she find anyone in the history of France that inspires her?
Giles Chance
2 years ago
Macron will win.
Patrick Fox
2 years ago
What amazes me since Zemmour (Z) appearance on the French political scene is the sudden but not so surprising amnesia displayed by mainstream medias and commentators like John Lichfield (JL). What I mean by this is that the recent devilish Rassemblement National (RN)/ former Front National (FN) of Marine Le Pen miraculously appears mainstream compatible.
This is not surprising when you know that this directly serves the interest of Jupiter/Macron, this is how he pulled it in 2017, because lets be realistic he was elected by default not by choice and he intends to do the same again in 2022, so much for “democracy” a word I find more and more difficult to fathom today as it is systematically misused, debased and abused and thus emptied of any of its original meaning. The same goes with the word fascist if you do not think like me you are a fascist and thus I do not need to argue with you (usually because I am incapable of doing so).
So when activists or mainstream media call someone far, extreme or hard right we all know they are referring to the word fascist and agitating the spectre of that Austrian guy with the squared moustache and long hair fringe known to be a socialist who happened to also be a nationalist living in Germany , it rarely refers to the baldy Italian guy who was not evil enough to fit the needed purpose and this despite being at the origin of said word.
Well today Z and to a similar extent Ciotti are the new fascists in town , Z is the racist, Z is the populist, Z is the Muslim hater and the RN, — this androgynous party with its socialist agenda (both in terms of economy and social policies) and nationalist stance ( the term nationalist being another debatable one nowadays if I would dare compare that of RN with for example that of Sinn Féin in Ireland the latter an openly socialist if not more and nationalist party)— slipping in the glittering armour of Joan of Arc to which it shows a particular devotion, is the party who is going to rid France of this Z “vermin” with a “little help” from the John Lichfield’s of this world and their god Jupiter.
This perception forced on the public by the media totally obliterates the reality of the situation. First Z ‘s « Reconquête » party from an economic standpoint is anchored to the shores of the liberal right not socialist like that of the RN. Second having listened to Z’s inaugural speech, previous interviews and television and radio programs and then going to the RN’s manifestoes and speeches over the years, I am much more reassured by Z’s positioning than that of RN’s in terms of tolerance and open mindedness towards legal immigrants and muslims in France who are genuinely willing to embrace and accept what is called France’s way of life ( something execrable to the Nowheres ) and laïcité. The same requirements have been applied for years to immigrants to Canada, Australia and many other countries without provoking a blink from the numerous members of the congregation of the doctrine of the faith of the pontificating woke do gooders.
Entering the french political arena Z needs to capture the attention of the French and he is playing on a very present and sensitive chord in a country which,despite some Nowhere’s attempts to make us believe the opposite, is still profoundly attached to traditional values and images ( one just needs to follow the lunchtime news on french TV channel TF1 to be convinced ) that Macron himself opportunistically makes use of when cornered by his own reckless decisions or abusive verbal immature school yard outbursts. So let us not be surprised by Z’s patriotic historical references and the tone with which he expresses them ( at least he is not suffering from cultural deficiency a rare quality in french politicians since Mitterand and previously de Gaulle and Pompidou). As we say in France “on n’ attire pas les mouches avec du vinaigre” ( you don’t catch flies with vinegar”) after all it is a political competition.
So, if by reference to the standards of acceptability and definitions established by the mainstream medias pundits and commentators like JL when it comes to qualifying people as hard, extreme or far right ( and we all know they mean fascists please see above), Z is certainly on the right but not as extreme as the RN but he and now Pécresse to a certain extent are certainly complicating Jupiter’s cunning re-election plan .When it will come for Macron to obtain a majority in the June 2022 general elections , it could well turn out,based on the recent results of his party LREM in the last local elections, that he has no majority in parliament . This would clearly display the nothingness of his political project if he ever had one. But he is a self-centred opportunist cold blooded chameleon ( with psychopathic traits I am told) and this would not affect him the least as far as he remains president up to 2027.
If he wins, Pécresse —with the complicity of some of her Les Republicains aficionados — who displays the same ego and opportunistic trait will certainly cuddle up to him and once more jump ship in the hope of becoming Prime Minister and then who knows President in 2027. But this is forgetting the “Horizons” party recently launched by Macron’s subservient former prime minister Edouard Philippe another defector of Les Republicains who , like Pécresse ( although for her it was another opportunistic last minute ship jumping exercise in the 2017 presidential election and some people are surprised she is labelled a traitor) , supported Alain Juppé , is able to muster up sufficient seats to give Jupiter a majority and position himself for the presidential election of 2027.
But lets take one presidential election at a time and first await to see if Z will gather the required 500 signatures ( from maires, mps … ) to be able to run. If he doesn’t then questions will have to be addressed on this practice of having the nominative list of the persons having given their signatures to a potential candidate made public .
The fear of political pressure or retaliatory actions is thus vividly present in their minds as they can rightly believe they could be publicly branded as fascist by the same crowds I referred to earlier. Therefore taking the step necessitates a lot of political courage ,a rarity in politics nowadays unless of course the main parties for tactical reasons find an interest in encouraging them to do so. So much for political democracy!!
Zemmour is “far right”? Give me a break.
This is a badge of honour when you compare to the far left (Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Sandrine Rousseau, etc).
I do wish reporters would stop describing both Le Pen and Zemmour as “far right” because in fact, neither are. Apart from her policies on immigration and security Le Pen is more far left than far right as a cursory glance over her economic policies would reveal. Zemmour is right wing as opposed to centre right, that is all.
The world today is leaning so far to the left that anyone standing up straight seems to be leaning to far right. Like going down an escalator and watching the people coming up towards you. An optical illusion.
“The deep political divisions in France would persist; they might even deepen. The real battle for the soul of France is coming — but probably not until 2027.”
That’s not surprising given the deeply divided French electorate (as summarized in this article). It appears whoever is elected President this time will not have support of a solid majority of the French people and so will constantly be on the defensive.
Recently Aris Roussinos wrote in Unherd that the overall trajectory of French politics is to the right. I wonder if the author of this article would agree with that assessment and its implications for the 2027 election?
If France is headed right what does that mean for its relationship with that other EU stalwart, Germany, which seems to be leaning left–or perhaps that is only a passing phase?
How the enemies of the West must be rubbing their hands in glee at the sight of all this division.
Does Germany, I wonder, have a “droit du sol”? It might seem a superfluous feature of the law within the context of the EU. The proposal to end the right to citizenship for those born in a country might, however, become a litmus test, in politics, in terms of France’s settled picture of itself in the coming years.
Well the introduction of this typical article by JL and its usual string of ad nausea platitudes on french politics has at least revealed what I have been saying for sometime now that JL is a full fledge member of this self proclaimed well to be bourgeois woke Parisian elite who despise any person outside Paris intra-muros considering them as not being able to understand and analysis for themselves because not being on an intellectual par with them. At least I will not have to come back on this in the future ( it is most certainly a great relief for you who take the time to read my comments)
Once stripped off of all JL’s unhelpful bla bla much of his plagiarisms of the analysis made in the french press cannot be argued against, so much for a personal analysis which purpose should be to bring some added value to its readers.
Pécresse being branded a traitor, turn coat and others is not the sudden making of so called “ harder- line Republicains or by Zemmouristes” triggered by her victory at the weekend. They are just repeating what the Republicains from all sides baptised her when she unsurprisingly left the party in 2019 (like Xavier Bertrand in 2017) on the pretext of renovating the french right, so much for this . She only rejoined a few weeks ago to run for the primary election. In people’s books this is a clear stigma demonstrating what you can expect from someone with such firmness of character and political stances , the ideal Macron like leader.
Her first visit to Ciotti’s village is according to JL a” shrewd move” and hence her political skills should certainly not be underestimated. Wrong once again, both Ciotti and Pécresse , under the insistence of the party’s leadership , had agreed before the second round that the winner would first visit the looser’s political seat and then that of the other 3 defeated in the first round and this in order to demonstrate the unity of the party behind the winner. Nothing of Pécresse’s exclusive demonstration of political skills rather a party decision if they want to keep the shadow of a chance to pass the presidential election’s first round.
And to finish the usual JL’s attacks on the far right and hard right but as I said in a previous comment he is indécrottable. The only conclusion anyone can draw from JL’s present written eructations is that France will only change once it rids itself of those Baldrick like racist, anti muslim, anti EU and security blood thirsty french “far” “hard”, “ extreme”, “ fascist”, “ignorant” and ……. ( please have your pick) right wingers living outside the western arrondissements of Paris and Neuilly where JL had the privilege to securely be able to walk his daughters to a catholic private school not a choice afforded by many french families living in the « banlieues ». A fine example of what is known as “La Gauche Caviar” or radish like socialists red on the outside white inside.
“The number of Les Républicains party members zoomed from 80,000 to 140,000 in the weeks before the vote as “sympathisers” handed over €30 in annual party dues. All five candidates had encouraged supporters, in effect, to buy votes. The Pécresse camp, with the enormous population of greater Paris behind it, “bought” the most (quite legally). And it undoubtedly had an impact: she beat the favourite, the former EU Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, by only 1,200 votes in Round One to go forward in second place to round two.”
For all the talk of Merkel and Thatcher, it’s Clinton she most reminds me of.
Or Bliar or Obarmy, almost anyone but Merkel or Thatcher.
Two parts Angela Merkel, one part Margaret Thatcher: a Macron variant.
One part Angela, two parts Maggie: a Macron-very-much-not?
Considering the repeated criticisms that she is not authentic, this was a remarkably stupid comment. It just reinforces the idea that she is a manufactured product and you need to check the label for ingredients.
I just took the quoted comment as meaning that Angela is twice the lady that Maggie was. A piece of virtue-signalling at the Iron Lady’s expense.
I meant Pécresse’s comment, not yours! Sorry if I was not clear – I was endorsing your remarks.
Good grief!
Lichfield addles the brain of even the best.
This is one of Litchfield’s better offers!
« two parts Angela Merkel and one part Margaret Thatcher”. She is not, she says, une dame de fer (iron lady) like Thatcher but une dame de faire (a woman who gets things done). »
people should be seriously scared. How much more schizophrenic can one be ?
what strikes me is that having won the republican primary…..it is as if she won the election.
She will get creamed…..she sounds, acts like Francois Fillon and no one needs that.
If only Macron understood the need the French have to rekindle with their culture, their need for law and order all the while staying Europeans at heart, he would be elected in an armchair.
The essential fact of the Merkel years is that she got nothing done, surely. Seems like a media aimed throw away phrase that had not been thought through.
Thing is, French are not one bit interested in what foreign media have to say and Merkel has a very good image here…..as opposed to Macron who is everything she is not.
The association of powerful German economy with Merkel s image paints a picture of sturdy, reliable Germany when in fact the country is far from being rosy. Have a look at how the pandemic is managed, people queuing to be vaccinated and having then to run to the pharmacy to get a QR code. The level of digitalisation in Germany is pathetic, roads and bridges will be as marrode Brücke oder Strassen described and in many places they are.
This schwarz null obsession on the budget is like us sitting on a pile of cash and refusing to repair the roof, buckets lying on the floor.
As to Thatcher……I’ll hold by bile only to remark that the Falkland war was very very gutsy.
No way Mrs Precresse would have the guts to such a statement. As to Merkel, she sat comfy in Berlin leaving the dirty job in Mali to the French.
Macron will be re-elected in the end because he will just appear as the least pathetic option……what a prospect.
In total agreement – both schizophrenic and synthetic, it suggests a person with no real sense of self. It also bothered me that she chose two foreign female politicians as her role models. This is a deeply stupid choice that borders on unpatriotic. It also has a touch of US-style woke identity politics that many, like me, find contemptible and nauseating. Couldn’t she find anyone in the history of France that inspires her?
Macron will win.
What amazes me since Zemmour (Z) appearance on the French political scene is the sudden but not so surprising amnesia displayed by mainstream medias and commentators like John Lichfield (JL). What I mean by this is that the recent devilish Rassemblement National (RN)/ former Front National (FN) of Marine Le Pen miraculously appears mainstream compatible.
This is not surprising when you know that this directly serves the interest of Jupiter/Macron, this is how he pulled it in 2017, because lets be realistic he was elected by default not by choice and he intends to do the same again in 2022, so much for “democracy” a word I find more and more difficult to fathom today as it is systematically misused, debased and abused and thus emptied of any of its original meaning. The same goes with the word fascist if you do not think like me you are a fascist and thus I do not need to argue with you (usually because I am incapable of doing so).
So when activists or mainstream media call someone far, extreme or hard right we all know they are referring to the word fascist and agitating the spectre of that Austrian guy with the squared moustache and long hair fringe known to be a socialist who happened to also be a nationalist living in Germany , it rarely refers to the baldy Italian guy who was not evil enough to fit the needed purpose and this despite being at the origin of said word.
Well today Z and to a similar extent Ciotti are the new fascists in town , Z is the racist, Z is the populist, Z is the Muslim hater and the RN, — this androgynous party with its socialist agenda (both in terms of economy and social policies) and nationalist stance ( the term nationalist being another debatable one nowadays if I would dare compare that of RN with for example that of Sinn Féin in Ireland the latter an openly socialist if not more and nationalist party)— slipping in the glittering armour of Joan of Arc to which it shows a particular devotion, is the party who is going to rid France of this Z “vermin” with a “little help” from the John Lichfield’s of this world and their god Jupiter.
This perception forced on the public by the media totally obliterates the reality of the situation. First Z ‘s « Reconquête » party from an economic standpoint is anchored to the shores of the liberal right not socialist like that of the RN. Second having listened to Z’s inaugural speech, previous interviews and television and radio programs and then going to the RN’s manifestoes and speeches over the years, I am much more reassured by Z’s positioning than that of RN’s in terms of tolerance and open mindedness towards legal immigrants and muslims in France who are genuinely willing to embrace and accept what is called France’s way of life ( something execrable to the Nowheres ) and laïcité. The same requirements have been applied for years to immigrants to Canada, Australia and many other countries without provoking a blink from the numerous members of the congregation of the doctrine of the faith of the pontificating woke do gooders.
Entering the french political arena Z needs to capture the attention of the French and he is playing on a very present and sensitive chord in a country which,despite some Nowhere’s attempts to make us believe the opposite, is still profoundly attached to traditional values and images ( one just needs to follow the lunchtime news on french TV channel TF1 to be convinced ) that Macron himself opportunistically makes use of when cornered by his own reckless decisions or abusive verbal immature school yard outbursts. So let us not be surprised by Z’s patriotic historical references and the tone with which he expresses them ( at least he is not suffering from cultural deficiency a rare quality in french politicians since Mitterand and previously de Gaulle and Pompidou). As we say in France “on n’ attire pas les mouches avec du vinaigre” ( you don’t catch flies with vinegar”) after all it is a political competition.
So, if by reference to the standards of acceptability and definitions established by the mainstream medias pundits and commentators like JL when it comes to qualifying people as hard, extreme or far right ( and we all know they mean fascists please see above), Z is certainly on the right but not as extreme as the RN but he and now Pécresse to a certain extent are certainly complicating Jupiter’s cunning re-election plan .When it will come for Macron to obtain a majority in the June 2022 general elections , it could well turn out,based on the recent results of his party LREM in the last local elections, that he has no majority in parliament . This would clearly display the nothingness of his political project if he ever had one. But he is a self-centred opportunist cold blooded chameleon ( with psychopathic traits I am told) and this would not affect him the least as far as he remains president up to 2027.
If he wins, Pécresse —with the complicity of some of her Les Republicains aficionados — who displays the same ego and opportunistic trait will certainly cuddle up to him and once more jump ship in the hope of becoming Prime Minister and then who knows President in 2027. But this is forgetting the “Horizons” party recently launched by Macron’s subservient former prime minister Edouard Philippe another defector of Les Republicains who , like Pécresse ( although for her it was another opportunistic last minute ship jumping exercise in the 2017 presidential election and some people are surprised she is labelled a traitor) , supported Alain Juppé , is able to muster up sufficient seats to give Jupiter a majority and position himself for the presidential election of 2027.
But lets take one presidential election at a time and first await to see if Z will gather the required 500 signatures ( from maires, mps … ) to be able to run. If he doesn’t then questions will have to be addressed on this practice of having the nominative list of the persons having given their signatures to a potential candidate made public .
The fear of political pressure or retaliatory actions is thus vividly present in their minds as they can rightly believe they could be publicly branded as fascist by the same crowds I referred to earlier. Therefore taking the step necessitates a lot of political courage ,a rarity in politics nowadays unless of course the main parties for tactical reasons find an interest in encouraging them to do so. So much for political democracy!!