The perils of a Le Pen presidency
Even three years out, the prospect is alarming
For over half a century the name Le Pen has sent a tremor through liberal France. Le Pen senior, Jean-Marie, prowled for decades around the political fringes, trading in xenophobic outrage and antisemitic provocation. He was as adept at stirring fear and offending the establishment as he was at securing convictions for incitement to racial hatred. Twice Mr Le Pen sat in parliament, and in 2002 he made it into the presidential run-off. Even then nobody took seriously the possibility that the blustering former paratrooper would win the highest office—or wish to.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “President Le Pen”
Leaders March 2nd 2024
From the March 2nd 2024 edition
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