Rafael Behr argues that rightwing populists like Le Pen and Trump thrive by creating chaos while posing as restorers of order, a tactic facing challenges in the UK.
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01Summary
- 01Marine Le Pen leads the far-right National Rally and is on course to win France's 2025 presidential election with a platform of 'restored authority and security'.
- 02Riots in France, starting with student protests over neglected education, have boosted Le Pen by allowing her to promise order amid chaos.
- 03Donald Trump blames immigrants for France's unrest, while JD Vance says 'western liberals' opened borders to 'the third world'.
- 04Labour's 2024 landslide in the UK was driven by public fatigue with Tory turmoil rather than Keir Starmer's policies, according to the piece.
- 05The author warns that Le Pen could dismantle the 'republican front' if facing Jean-Luc Mélenchon in a runoff, as centre-right voters would back her.
02Why it matters
This matters because the same populist playbook—stoking disorder while pledging stability—could reshape politics in France, the US and the UK, with potential consequences for democratic institutions and governance.
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