Only once in history has France had a far-right government: during the Nazi occupation in World War II.
For the course of the twentieth century, hardline conservative movements were kept to the outskirts of politics because to their identification with an era of national disaster. They’re making a resurgence now, capitalizing on economic instability to sell a story about a proud nation threatened by alien cultures.
What is the far-right in France?
Since the late 1800s, several populist movements have long passed under this umbrella name as per the latest updates in politics today. They seek to favour conservative principles and advocate for strict law and order enforcement. A few are monarchists and conservative Catholics, and many are racists and anti-Semites.
The National Rally, which began 1972 as the National Front in France and was led by Jean-Marie Le Pen for nearly four decades before being succeeded by Marine, his daughter, is the top far-right party of today.
What policies do they have?
The National Rally intends:
- to reduce immigration and asylum
- prevent foreign nationals’ families from visiting them in France
- deport unauthorized migrants
Zemmour proposed:
- deporting a list of illegal immigrants and visitors who have broken the law or are suspected of having terrorist tendencies
- demanded a prohibition on Muslim identities, Islamic veils, and mosque minarets
- renunciation of Muslims’ faith and ideas, which he saw as irreconcilable with French republican norms.