Daily Expert News
No Result
View All Result
Thursday, May 26, 2022
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
Daily Expert News
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
No Result
View All Result
Daily Expert News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
Home World Europe

Macron to build a ‘dam’ against Le Pen. Can it hold?

by Nick Erickson
April 11, 2022
in Europe
129 4
0
Macron to build a 'dam' against Le Pen. Can it hold?
152
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT


PARIS – A day after Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, emerged as his challenger to the final round of the French presidential election in less than two weeks, President Emmanuel Macron immediately began building the “dam” on Monday.

Dams are the mainstream French voters who, time and again, have put aside political disagreements in the second round and voted for everyone but one Le Pen in a so-called “Republican front” to deny the far right the presidency.

But after Sunday’s first round, when 32 percent of French voters supported far-right candidates — a record – the dam may be more precarious than ever.

Mr Macron, widely criticized for a lackluster campaign, sprang into action on Monday to back it up, challenging Ms Le Pen and her party, the National Rally, directly in the economically backward north where it dominated Sunday.

In Denain, a town won by Ms Le Pen, Mr Macron spoke about the concerns of the young people in Denain and other social issues. He tried to remind voters of the extremist roots of Ms Le Pen’s party, calling its old name the National Front.

During her own campaign stop in a rural area, Yonne, Ms Le Pen said the dam was an unfair strategy to win an election, adding that “it’s one way to save yourself if you don’t do it.” deserves.”

In a triumphant speech against the majestic backdrop of the Louvre Museum five years ago, Mr Macron had launched his presidency by promising to unite the French so that “there would be no reason at all to vote for the extremes”.

But alongside Ms Le Pen’s second-place finish, with 23 percent of the vote, left-wing veteran Jean-Luc Mélenchon won 22 percent of Sunday’s vote to take a strong third place.

Mélenchon’s supporters – divided in their attitudes towards Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen – could now help determine the final outcome of the April 24 election.

After five years of Mr Macron beating Ms Le Pen in the second round of 2017, the far-right leader emerged stronger than ever. She has softened her image in a successful process of “demonizing” and relentlessly targeting the economic hardship of ordinary voters.

In Yonne, Mrs. Le Pen hammered away at the themes that took her to the second round. During a meeting with a grain farmer, she told how rising fuel and fertilizer prices after the war in Ukraine would increase the cost of staples in supermarkets and harm the most vulnerable.

The record performance of the far right on Sunday was the result of a combination of factors, including Ms Le Pen’s own efforts to refresh her image, a successful cultural struggle waged by conservative forces in recent years, and a series of Islamist attacks in France since 2015.

But critics say it also reflected Macron’s ongoing strategy to triangulate France’s electoral landscape. While Mr Macron was considered a centre-left candidate five years ago, he shifted to the right during his presidency as he felt his main challenge would come from Ms Le Pen.

That shift was embodied in a series of laws that tightened France’s stance on immigration, empowered the police and combated Islamist extremism. Many working French also felt that his economic policies unfairly favored the wealthy and left them more adrift.

If Mr Macron’s intent was to defuse Ms Le Pen’s appeal by ridding her of her core problems, critics say the approach backfired by bringing the talking points of the far right deeper into mainstream political debate.

Ms. Le Pen then shifted her message to wallet matters that are now even more widespread now that energy prices are peaking as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Sacha Houlié, a lawmaker and spokesperson for Mr Macron’s campaign, said the president was aiming to strengthen the drafts strategy. He acknowledged that “some mistakes” and “gaps” had been made, noting that some ministers had picked up on themes and phrases promoted by the far right.

But Mr Houlié denied that Mr Macron had normalized far-right ideas and said his government had mainly tried to respond to people’s growing concerns about crime and immigration. “We can’t sweep the dust under the rug,” he said, referring to the problems.

Updated

Apr 10, 2022, 5:40 PM ET

But many, especially Mélenchon’s supporters on the left, feel so betrayed that Macron may have a harder time convincing them to join his call for unity in this next election by building a dam against Mrs Le Pen, who the president has mentioned a danger to democracy.

Alexis Lévrier, a historian who has written about Mr Macron’s relations with the news media, said that when Mr Macron tried to reform French politics around a strict division between his mainstream movement and Ms Le Pen, he “contributed to the rise of power of the far right.”

“He’s unconsciously a pyromaniac firefighter,” said Mr. Levrier.

Stéphanie Noury, a native of Guyancourt — an affluent, left-wing town southwest of Paris where Mélenchon entered the first Sunday — said she gave Mr Macron her vote in 2017 as part of a dam against the far right. But this time she planned to stay home for the final round.

“Macron played into the hands of the far right,” said Ms Noury, 55, a human resources manager who voted for Mr Mélenchon on Sunday. “He told himself he would always win against the far right.”

Compared to 2017, Ms Le Pen’s share rose a few percentage points in the first round, despite direct challenge from a new rival, far-right TV pundit Éric Zemmour, who urged his supporters to vote for Ms Le Pen. Le Pen in the coming confrontation.

On Sunday, Ms Le Pen, Mr Zemmour and a third far-right candidate, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, received 32 percent of the vote. In 2017, Ms Le Pen and Mr Dupont-Aignan collected 26 percent in the first round.

Voters first formed a barrier against the far right in 2002 when Ms Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, shocked the political establishment by turning it into a runoff against Jacques Chirac. Another dam helped beat Ms. Le Pen in 2017.

To give credibility to the right, in 2019 Mr Macron gave his first long interview on the sensitive issues of immigration and Islam to Valeurs Actuelles, a magazine that spans the right and the far right.

“Speaking to us, Emmanuel Macron came looking for some legitimacy on these topics, from right-wing people who felt he was doing nothing,” said Geoffroy Lejeune, the publication’s editor. “He knows that he is sending a big signal with this.”

Aurélien Taché, a lawmaker who was once an ally of Macron, said the president was elected in 2017 thanks to voters who put aside their political differences and united against Ms Le Pen.

He said Mr Macron should have taken those votes – mainly from the left – to be taken into account later in its policy.

“He didn’t take them into account,” he said, adding that Mr Macron instead worked to set up “this rift between him and Ms Le Pen, leading to a “high-risk rematch”.

“Very strong concessions have been made to the far right on a whole range of issues,” said Mr Taché, also referring to stricter immigration rules and the application of a stricter version of French secularism called laïcité.

But Mr Taché, who left Mr Macron’s party in 2020 due to the president’s shift to the right, was especially critical of the government’s groundbreaking law against separatism, which is criticized inside and outside France, including by the US Envoy for International Religious Freedom.

The law amounted to “making Islam and Muslims invisible,” said Mr. said Tache.

Some academics, political opponents and Muslim organizations have also criticized the law as: discrimination against French Muslims by leading to the widespread closure of mosques, Muslim associations and schools.

That resentment may now also complicate Mr Macron’s efforts to build dams.

For example, to be re-elected this time around, he will have to convince voters in places like Trappes, a working-class town with a large Muslim population southwest of Paris, to join the dam against Ms. Le Pen.

Trappes has long been a stronghold of Mélenchon supporters, backing Mr Macron strongly in the 2017 runoff election. But comments from voters on Sunday suggested the dam might not be as effective this time around.

Frédéric Renan, 47, a computer programmer, said he would abstain or cast a blank vote in a confrontation between Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen.

“Macron opened the door to the far right,” Renan said, adding that the president’s economic policies hurt the poor and fueled the rise of the far right.

“I don’t see how voting for Macron is a vote in a dam against the far right,” he said. “Some people will say that not joining the barrier against the far right is irresponsible, that the threat from the far right is greater than what Emmanuel Macron is proposing, but I am not convinced.”

Adele Cordonnier reporting contributed.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: BuildDailyExpertNewsdamholdMacronPen

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

A doomed river crossing shows the dangers of entrapment in the east of the war
Europe

A doomed river crossing shows the dangers of entrapment in the east of the war

May 25, 2022
After mass gun kills, other countries changed course - with remarkable effect
Europe

After mass gun kills, other countries changed course – with remarkable effect

May 25, 2022
How (and Why) We Calculated the Value of Haiti's Payments to France
Europe

How (and Why) We Calculated the Value of Haiti’s Payments to France

May 25, 2022
Johnson Says Humiliated By 'Partygate' Report But Will Carry On
Europe

Johnson Says Humiliated By ‘Partygate’ Report But Will Carry On

May 25, 2022
The lockdown celebrations in Downing Street 'represent a serious failure', a report says.
Europe

The lockdown celebrations in Downing Street ‘represent a serious failure’, a report says.

May 25, 2022
Putin visits the wounded in a military hospital in Moscow for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine.
Europe

Putin visits the wounded in a military hospital in Moscow for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine.

May 25, 2022
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Live updates: Russia invades Ukraine

Ukraine pledges ‘immediate investigation’ after video surfaced of soldiers shooting Russian prisoners

March 28, 2022
An Anaconda's Playdate With Dolphins Took a Strange Turn

An Anaconda’s Playdate With Dolphins Took a Strange Turn

May 2, 2022
'Better Call Saul' Season 6, Episode 2: Do the Hustle

‘Better Call Saul’ Season 6, Episode 2: Do the Hustle

April 19, 2022
And now the $200,000 facelift

And now the $200,000 facelift

May 3, 2022

Hello world!

0
NDTV News

IT startup Fareye aims to change Unicorn within a year, founder says

0
How did Stephanie Murphy, a holdout on Biden's agenda, help save it?

How did Stephanie Murphy, a holdout on Biden’s agenda, help save it?

0
How did Stephanie Murphy, a holdout on Biden's agenda, help save it?

How did Stephanie Murphy, a holdout on Biden’s agenda, help save it?

0
How 5 States' Election Results Could Affect Tomorrow's Stock Market

Stock Updates: Sensex up 300+ points, conveniently above 16,100; IndiGo jumps 6%

May 26, 2022
KL Rahul Lists "Obvious" Reasons For Losing LSG To RCB In IPL Eliminator | Cricket News

KL Rahul Lists “Obvious” Reasons For Losing LSG To RCB In IPL Eliminator | Cricket News

May 26, 2022
NDTV News

SBI introduces real-time Xpress credit on YONO app

May 26, 2022
Johnny Depp testifies for the second time: 'No matter what happens, I came here and told the truth' | CNN

Johnny Depp testifies for the second time: ‘No matter what happens, I came here and told the truth’ | DailyExpertNews

May 26, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

How 5 States' Election Results Could Affect Tomorrow's Stock Market

Stock Updates: Sensex up 300+ points, conveniently above 16,100; IndiGo jumps 6%

May 26, 2022
KL Rahul Lists "Obvious" Reasons For Losing LSG To RCB In IPL Eliminator | Cricket News

KL Rahul Lists “Obvious” Reasons For Losing LSG To RCB In IPL Eliminator | Cricket News

May 26, 2022

Categories

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • art-design
  • Arts
  • Asia Pacific
  • Astrology News
  • books
  • Books News
  • Business
  • Cricket
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Dance
  • Dining and Wine
  • Economy
  • Education & Career
  • Europe
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Football
  • Gadget
  • Gaming
  • Golf
  • Health
  • Hot News
  • India
  • Indians Abroad
  • Lifestyle
  • Markets
  • Middle East
  • Most Shared
  • Motorsport
  • Movie
  • Music
  • New York
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • press release
  • Real Estate
  • Review
  • Science & Space
  • Sports
  • Sunday Book Review
  • Tax News
  • Technology
  • Television
  • Tennis
  • Theater
  • Top Movie Reviews
  • Top Stories
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Web Series
  • World

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • Advertisement
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Other Links

We bring you the Breaking News,Latest Stories,World News, Business News, Political News, Technology News, Science News, Entertainment News, Sports News, Opinion News and much more from all over the world

©Copyright DailyExpertNews 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Markets
  • India
  • Education & Career
  • Arts
  • Advertisement
  • Tax News
  • Markets

©Copyright DailyExpertNews 2022

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.