Frankreich
IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
Why Le Pen’s games are a danger to democracy
Like all right-wing extremist parties, the National Rally (Rassemblement National – RN) styles itself as an “anti-establishment” movement fighting against an allegedly corrupt and self-serving political elite. However, when it comes to their own financial interests, either individual or party-wide, they exempt themselves from these high moral standards. This is certainly the case with the most recent verdict against Marine Le Pen, and her allies’ reactions to it. Throughout the trial the RN ...
read more "From far-right firebrand to playing the victim"
read more "From far-right firebrand to playing the victim"
IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
The verdict against Marine Le Pen sends shockwaves around Europe–and is a powerful message against corruption and the abuse of power.
The prominent French nationalist Marine Le Pen was today found guilty by the Paris Criminal Court of embezzling public funds. Specifically, Le Pen was accused of misappropriating resources from the European Parliament to pay party staff in France. Around 20 individuals from her close circle were also convicted, including eight Members of the European Parliament. The political impact is seismic: the frontrunner for the 2027 ...
read more "Head Bowed, Hands Dirty"
read more "Head Bowed, Hands Dirty"
IMAGO/Starface
On the evening of Sunday, 7 July 2024, the Place de la République in Paris was once again filled with a compact crowd, but this time it was joy and shouts of victory that dominated the gathering immediately after the election results were announced.
read more "A Hopeful Surprise in France"
read more "A Hopeful Surprise in France"
IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
****Version française ci-dessous****With only a few days to go before election day, the foundation’s Nessim Achouche spoke to Clémence Guetté, a member of the French National Assembly for La France insoumise (LFI) and co-president of the movement’s think tank, Institut La Boétie, about LFI’s electoral strategy and how Institut La Boétie helps to inform that strategy with research and serious debate.
read more "The Struggle for Hegemony Is a Struggle for Ideas"
read more "The Struggle for Hegemony Is a Struggle for Ideas"
IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
How French voters turn out in the European elections next month could have major domestic implications
Do the French care about the European elections? Thus far, the European electoral campaign has failed to stir up much popular enthusiasm. Of course, it is only just getting underway, and headlines have focused primarily on the new government and farmers’ protests in recent months.
The first televised debate, held on 14 March by TV channel Public Sénat, was a testament to this lack of interest: the public had to wait until less than three months before the elections ...
read more "A Test Run for 2027?"
read more "A Test Run for 2027?"
When he came to power, Emmanuel Macron – who claims to be “neither left nor right” and considers “liberalism a leftist value” (1) – pledged to overcome political divisions. This forced his opponents to develop strategies and measures that would enable them to survive on the new political stage. While the socialists, conservatives, and extreme right are struggling to reinvent themselves, the left seems to be gaining a surprising momentum, both on the streets and in parliament – and not just since Macron took office.
While an electoral victory for ...
read more "The left in France under Macron"
read more "The left in France under Macron"
In the debate on Europe, Emmanuel Macron is trying to sell himself as a proponent of deeper EU integration, in particular for its hard core, the eurozone. To this end, he has formulated several concepts, not least ‘European sovereignty’: the need for Europeans to unite to assert their influence on the world. He has also brought to the table several proposals—a eurozone budget, transnational lists—which European partners, especially German chancellor Angela Merkel, have received with caution. Domestically-speaking, Macron, being the good liberal that ...
read more "Macron’s European ambitions dashed"
read more "Macron’s European ambitions dashed"