Marine Le Pen, the leader of the french right wing party Front National and running for president won 20% of the votes at the first round of the elections. One has to compare not only with the 10% her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, won back in 2007, not even with the 17% back in 2002… but also with the scores back in the 80s, 90s, etc. The Front National was founded in 1972 and their results at presidential elections went from 0.5% in 1974 to 20% today. Meanwhile, their views and opinions about immigration and nationalism have not evolved. But as these views were marginal in France in 70s, they suit fifth of the french people who went voting today.
Years have passed and hostility towards migrants, muslims, africans, has grown more and more. Voting for Jean-Marie Le Pen was shameful in the 90s, Marine Le Pen and her attacks on french Muslims are now broadcasted on primetime shows. The rise of racism in Europe is worrying and should not been treated as it is today by ambitious politicians. The failure of democracy in Europe is that “moderate” parties think about how to please to right wing voters in order to attract them, instead of standing firmly for the positive values of democracy that are the only barrier we have to oppose to hatred.
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