France Elections. I am an immigrant

I honestly don't know mokryna. I get the impression it was partly the correct decision and partly much too hasty. I feel sorry for Attal who I thought was doing well and was clearly against the election. I agree it would be worrying if Bardella becomes Prime Minister in terms of policy towards Ukraine (and lots of other things), but the President is still in charge of foreign affairs so I am not sure how much he could do. I suspect it will be such a hung parliament and that nothing much will happen in terms of legislation for three years and then on verra!

I think two thirds of the country are stunned. It’s like a ‘brexit’.
I spoke to one of my DDs, who said she has felt sick since she heard the news and would want to move countries if it got worse in three years time.

Our vet said the same thing mokryna they will return to Spain if RN get in.

Macron's hasty response to his party's poor European election results remind me of David Cameron. He wanted to pull the rug out from under Nigel Farage so called a referendum where he fully expected Remain to win. Look how that turned out. Both of them out of touch with how their country really feels.

well immigrants are already pushed to the absolute fringes of French life already in the Banlieues.. so I imagine if Le Pen gets elected they will be excluded completely.. it doesn't look good for French progressives..

Both of them out of touch with how their country really feels

I’m unsure that any politician understand how the ordinary people feel.

maddyone

^Both of them out of touch with how their country really feels^

I’m unsure that any politician understand how the ordinary people feel.

Hardly a new thing, though. Back in the mid 60s the mother of my French exchange girl (they lived in a non-smart suburb of Paris) was endlessly ranting about ‘les algeriens!’

I think the real time to worry will be in three years time when Macron finishes his tenure has President. The RN are very unlikely to do anything much with a hung parliament, but Le Pen as President plus a far right government would be a nightmare.

I agree Mamie fingers crossed it won't come to that.

I have two daughters who live in France : eldest lives in Ivry sur Seine, a very left wing multi cultural town and has still retained its left wing MP. The other lives in Soissons, it’s in the north east, between Compiegne & Reims (agricultural town) it’s always reflected the national mood and has just voted over 43% Marine le Pen!
Poor France, but reflects the mood of Europe in general

I think that the RN in France is far more dangerous than right wing movements elsewhere. I no longer reside in France, but I have noticed its insidious evolution, visit on visit I make. Looking on as an outsider, but with knowledge of French politics, I think these are scary times.

Mamie

I think the real time to worry will be in three years time when Macron finishes his tenure has President. The RN are very unlikely to do anything much with a hung parliament, but Le Pen as President plus a far right government would be a nightmare.

I have seen comments to the effect that by the time it comes to the presidential elections, if the populists do win power now, they will have made such a mess of running the country (as have other populist governments in the EU, Italy, anyone?) that the French will reject them..

Of course, this could just be wishful thinking...

What I mean is that, from my observations in Brittany, which in the past only voted somewhat reluctantly for Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardellais out in front, and this surprised me.

I'm not sure, MaizieD. It depends how fickle voters are in France? I think many have waited a long time to be heard, and their allegiance to a new regime might hold strong for quite some time.

Mass immigration seems to have resulted in a swing to the right in both Germany and France. as well as other European countries, although of course there are other factors involved. You would have thought that politicians would have seen this coming! They obviously do not heed the lessons of history. The UK’s Uniparty seems to be battling against the tide, to what ends, we will see.

People must have short memories. You would think, having been occupied by the Nazis and seeing the atrocities committed against minority populations, French people would be a lot more careful about who they vote for.

The vote for RN is broadly speaking stronger in rural areas and in people who have education levels below baccalauréat.
I don't really agree that voters have waited a long time to be heard, regular elections where the RN have been candidates and even more regular demonstrations have given plenty of opportunity. I still think it is a protest vote about cost of living, anger at pension reforms that bring France in line with other countries and despair at the appalling weather events that have ruined crops, homes and livelihoods for the last couple of years.
In our commune which is fundamentally a domitory village for the nearest city, with a mix of retired people and young families, Macron's party won the first round.

I do think it will get worse, more countries will go that way. Politicians do not listen to the people or experience what many do..Then they wonder why.

The majority of politicians have their own agenda and ignore the wishes of the people. Then they get a shock when voters are given the chance to express how they feel. This is what has happened in France.
Condemning people as Nazis because they don't want their culture diluted by immigrants is an insult. That applies right across Europe and Britain too. We don't want a mono-culture, we enjoy having our own identity. Those in power need to start realising that and stop forcing their own ideals on us.

I am afraid Macrons character is not particularly strong, his behaviour reflects that. He is unable to believe that he will not win.

Mamie you're right about the RN in being stronger in rural areas. People in those regions have indeed waited decades to see their favoured party in power. I was at school in Brittany in the 70s when Marine Le Pen's father, a Breton, arrived on the scene. He was very popular there with fishermen and farmers etc. Don't forget, Marine Le Pen split with her father and suspended his from the party. I don't like what her party stands for, but she herself is steadfast and tenacious.

*his him

We bought a house in Brittany, not that long ago, and as we sat in front of the lawyer to sign the papers, he said something like, "we don't mind you Brits coming to live in our country, it's all the African immigrants we don't want".
This was a legal representative of the government expressing the views that educated people also hold.

Galaxy

I am afraid Macrons character is not particularly strong, his behaviour reflects that. He is unable to believe that he will not win.

I don't really agree with that Galaxy. I think Macron is strong, but sometimes too headstrong. He is not a remote figure in practice as he does a lot of travelling on visits in mainland France and overseas territories, but he can appear too lofty and intellectual for some people.
I also think he is very well aware of people's grievances, legitimate or otherwise. We have lived in France for twenty years and protests and demonstrations are a way of life; you can't remain in ignorance.
As to "immigrants diluting culture", this is France; if you become a French citizen you espouse the values of the Republic culturally as well as legally. There is no religion or dress based on religion allowed in state schools, you are expected to speak French without translation services etc.
Yes, there are inevitable tensions around immigration, but French culture and patriotism and pride in French culture is very high.
If you watch the French news every day, you will see that the main concern at the moment is cost of living. I don't know what the RN can do about that.