How to face up to a far-right government, by those who have already
Contrary to many predictions, France’s far-right Rassemblement National party failed to win an absolute majority in parliament in the elections that concluded last weekend. But it nevertheless garnered more votes than any other party or alliance, and numerous observers warn that its support is likely to grow stronger ahead of presidential elections due in 2027. Amid what might prove simply a respite, Mediapart turned to political activists, writers, academics and journalists who live, or have lived, under far-right and populist governments, to hear their views on the situation in France, and which included the advice to prepare for the worst now. Justine Brabant reports.
OnOn the morning of July 8th, many people in France woke up with the feeling of having narrowly avoided a catastrophe, following weeks spent anxiously wondering what life would be like under a government led by far-right Rassemblement National party chairman Jordan Bardella. Those fears were swept away by the surprise victory of the Nouveau Front Populaire, the broad leftwing alliance that had been hurriedly formed after Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament, and which was dynamized by a vast mobilisation beyond party structures alone.
