France’s Front Nationale did so well mainly DUE to the dire economic situation under the Hollande government_ -and as it is unlikely that France’s high tax/low growth/near 11% unemployment will turn around sufficiently come the next general election – there will now be huge political risk associated with France until that election, and almost certainly after.
“How Francois Hollande changed but Ed Miliband stayed the same.”
www.trendingcentral.com/francois-hollande-changed-ed-miliband-stayed/
“Back in the summer of 2012, Ed Miliband was exalting his new hero across the channel, French president François Hollande. The Labour leader could not have been more generous in his praise for his opposite number in the French Socialist Party:”
Miliband quote: “What President Hollande is seeking to do in France and what he is seeking to do in leading the debate in Europe is find that different way forward. We are in agreement in seeking that new way that needs to be found and I think can be found.”
As the UK will either have a Cameron or Miliband led administration after our next General Election, unfortunately (for the British electorate seemingly oblivious to that fact) it will come a few years too early to see the economic/social damage a continual rise of France’s Front National will have from a much higher base - as Le Pen polled just under 18% in the 1st round of the French Presidential Vote in 2012.
France is now screwed for the medium term; votes for Ukip in 2015, unlike 2010 which ‘just’ caused a Conservative ‘largest party’, will ensue that Labour is at least ‘the largest party’ and due to the demise of the Lib Dems, be no doubt heading up an unworkable coalition, possibly or 3 or 4 (v.small) political parties.*
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100270514/it-wont-take-much-for-ukip-to-destroy-the-tories-at-the-2015-general-election/
Political party's like Ukip and the Front National for several decades have grown through periods of economic hardship or general unrest - and as some conditions of EU membership and a Great Recession caused both - we can at least be thankful for our improving economic situation and hopefully the prospects of EU reforms before an EU referendum.