Marine Le Pen

[Vegansausageroll]

Is anyone else concerned that far right Marine Le Pen is looking a distinct contender for French President? Having a Putin supporter in power in France could lead to untold issues. A worrying trend of far right politics in Europe is on the rise once again, I think it will just add to the instability going forward at a time when Europe desperately needs a strong and united front.

'Russia did want to use Ms Le Pen to legitimise its actions in Crimea. We know this because a group of Russian hackers, known as Shaltai Boltai, or Humpty Dumpty, published a series of text messages said to be between a Kremlin official and a Russian MP.
The exchanges, which took place in mid-March 2014, shows the pair discussing the possibility of Marine Le Pen travelling to Crimea as an observer in the referendum which would lead to Crimea's annexation.
"We really need this, I told my boss you were in contact with her," the Kremlin official says.
Marine Le Pen didn't go to Crimea. Instead she publicly backed the results of the referendum, a fact that delighted the Kremlin official and the MP.
"She didn't let us down," says one text, followed by a smiley-face.
"We must find some way of demonstrating our respect to the French," comes the reply.
Some believe the €9m loan, which was made later that year, was indeed a reward for Ms Le Pen's support over Crimea.
"For me, there is no doubt that [the loan] was authorised by Kremlin," said Mikhail Kasyanov, who was prime minister under Vladimir Putin before he joined the opposition.
"[It was] a special operation, a special recommendation of those businesspeople, to help Marine Le Pen."'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39478066.amp

Yes, true, the raising of retirement age (still lower than the UK one!) has annoyed people, included some in my family

Can anyone explain how this 1st round/ 2nd round election thing works?

@MoreCatsForMePlease

Can anyone explain how this 1st round/ 2nd round election thing works?

All candidates are present at the first round. The first two are the going to the second round. That round includes only those two candidates that can chose from. The final winner is the President!

What is I important is that you then have a SECOND elections for the MPS (in June). They are the ones who will have to accept the prime minister (chosen by the president). The majority at the assembly is different from the party of the president, you can still end up with a prime minister from a different party (and different policies altogether - the president only has official authority on the army and foreign policy)

@GCAcademic

Tell me you're right wing without telling me you're right wing!

It’s right wing to point out that Macron is an elitist banker type with no connection to the working class?

No wonder the Left is in trouble in France!

Hahaha Macron is much closer to the ‘working class’ than our PM ever was (or Sunak etc etc)

Pot kettle etc….

Fwiw about LePen.

She is always there for the elections. But has struggled to ever win seats at regional and local level. And the reason is simple. Each time that they have been elected, they’ve proven to be shit and managing anything at all.
They also have few MPs….

I think they are often a vote of discontent and opposition to ‘whatever is happening’. Plus they have cleverly stroked the Islamist issue, surfing on the wave of racism against north African that has been in France for ever.
Plus of course russian influence, just like there is in the U.K. (see who is financing the Conservatives, who has financed the leave campaign etc…..)

If Marine le Pen doesn't make it this time (again), keep an eye out for her niece Marion Marechal coming up behind her. Makes Marine LP look leftie.

I worry that the devastating cost of living crisis which is going to hit
every western democracy in the next twelve months will erode support for centrist parties and pave the way for extremists of both right and left.

How many people will be welcoming refugees when they cannot afford to feed themselves or heat their houses? Le Pen is already weaponising this.

Endaday engage your brain and do some flipping reading

she took a Russian loan which she's currently paying back but name anyone in politics who hasn't received Russian money.

Ah, you're going to have to back that up with evidence you know. No point sprouting stuff.

@IpanemaFleur

Endaday engage your brain and do some flipping reading

Or maybe swallowing all the shit you've happily had spooned into you!

You're implying that my post is incorrect but I have given a list of politicans who have happily had their photographs taken with Putin-several of them-including Macron-looking very happy about it.

Are you saying that is wrong and there are no such pictures?

A quick Google image search will show you that I am right.

Are you saying I am wrong when I point out that many politicans have had dealings-often financial dealings with Putin?

A quick Google search-using several and varied sources-will show you that I am right?

Or are you just pissed off that these proofs exist-are out there for anyone to find because it makes you have to actually think?

I rather feel that this is the answer for your unpleasant little post to which I am replying in kind.

So, use your time. Let your fingers hit your keyboard and, of course, if you find no images or no no mention of dodgy dealings, then do ask someone who knows how to do a Google search to help you.

Be warned though-these images may upset your equilibrium but they may make you think.

They may make you question why Le Pen is being singled out for attack when others have done the same.

However, having rather got your measure, your agenda and powers of thought-they may not.

It’s not like a whole bunch of French people have turned into right wing nutjobs overnight. There’s probably a bunch of reasons that aren’t clear to non French residents about why someone would wish to vote for Le pen. The yellow vest protests for example were calling for a bunch of policies which I think we would consider to be pretty left wing. Maybe some French people thing that Macron is the right winger (economically speaking). Le pen’s platform is focussed on cost of living etc. she’s also softened her stance on the Eu etc. plus I read that she suggested a policy where under 30’s could be exempt from income tax.

I’m not French though so who knows 🤷🏽‍♀️

Macron is considered right wing despite originally being from the socialist party (so left)
People on the left who haven’t been happy with that have voted fur melanchon.
LePen is benefiting from years focusing on Islamist/terrorist attack/immigration issues.

unherd.com/2022/04/the-resurrection-of-marine-le-pen/

Interesting piece, the writer used to be on France24 debate panel and as a reporter (if I remember correctly).