The rise of the far-right in France has been evident since 2012, culminating in a significant 41.5% voter share in the 2022 presidential runoff. This trend is part of a broader reaction against civil liberties, with the government increasingly banning protests and enacting laws that target Muslims, while criminalizing dissent. Physical attacks by far-right groups against ethnic minorities and activists have also surged.
The article asserts that various organizations, including Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) and Éric Zemmour’s Reconquête, have fostered a neofascist sentiment in France. Despite claims that these parties are not a threat, they embody a potential for fascism that has grown amid neoliberal policies that have undermined social rights and democratic institutions. The dismissive attitude towards the fascist potential is fueled by a belief in the “never again” mantra, which has ironically led to complacency.
Since the financial crisis of 2008, there has been a visible erosion of civil liberties and institutional integrity. Successive governments have adopted policies indistinguishable from those of the far right, blurring the lines between mainstream politics and extremist views. The ruling classes, including Macron’s government, have co-opted far-right language, diminishing public sensitivity to the rising threat.
The article critiques the “lesser evil” voting strategy that has been employed against the far right, arguing it has failed to mobilize effective opposition and has inadvertently legitimized the very forces it sought to combat. It calls for a complete rethinking of anti-fascist strategies to create a broad, radical movement that addresses neoliberal policies and defends the rights of marginalized groups rather than relying on traditional defenses of republican values. Ultimately, the article warns that without proactive measures, fascism’s resurgence in France could become a tangible reality.
