The far right advances by Arnaldo Casterlleras
Twenty percent of voters in the recent presidential election chose one of the two lists celebrating nationalism, the family, private education and religion, and a reduction in women's rights. Catholic fundamentalist Philippe de
Villiers won 4.8%, and the
National Front's Jean-Marie
Le Pen 15.3%. This is a considerable advance over the
1988 presidential election, when Le Pen, the only far-right candidate, polled 14.4%. De
Villiers' constituency is more rural and conservative than Le
Pen's, but the National Front can count on the Catholic fundamentalists as a reserve army of support - widening the appeal of the far-right, without posing a threat to Le
Pen's leadership.
The far right vote is not a temporary protest vote against the big parties. A full 46% of
Le Pen voters say they made their choice on the basis of the
National Front's programme.
Only 34% of Communist Party voters say the same.!
Nor are National Front voters primarily motivated by the call for a strong leader.
According to university researcher and anti-fascist activist Nona
Mayer, "only 6% of "LePenists' say their leader has "statesman qualities", and only
27% say they voted for him 'so that he can become the President'. They voted for Le
Pen because of his ideas."
An exit poll suggested that the main preoccupation of all voters were unemployment (cited by 29%) and social inequality (16%). In comparison, 54% of
Le Pen voters were mainly concerned with immigration (cited by only 13% of all voters) and only 23% were concerned with unemployment. Le Pen voters were also three times more likely to cite insecurity as a major concern (14%) than the average voter (5%). 2
National Front voters make a simplistic equation between immigration and unemployment. Many of them are concerned with the social and economic implications of an increasingly threatening phenomena of unemployment, and someone is telling them that the solution' to this problem is 'dealing with immigration. Three out of four Le Pen voters also say they are 'concerned' about their personal and professional future, while two thirds believe that democracy in France works badly (compared to 58% and 41% of the electorate as a whole). Who votes for the far right?
Trotskyist presidential candidate Arlette Laguiller (Workers' Struggle/Lutte ouvriere) was wrong when she claimed, in a television debate, that National Front voters come from the "nicer part of town" and that only a "few lost sheep" among working class voters were attracted to the extreme right. The fact is that more blue collar working class voters supported Le Pen than any other candidate. 27% voted National Front, compared to 20% for the
Socialists, and 17% for the
Communists. For the first time,
Le Pen also came first among the unemployed (27%, compared to 19% for Jacques
Chirac and 17% for the
Socialist candidate Leonel
Jospin).
The major parties are adapting their policies to take account of the far right element in society. The new government of Prime Minister
Alain Juppé might contain a record number of women, but all are prominent opponents of women's rights. The racist and authoritarian police and immigration laws of former interior Minister Charles
Pasqua will be maintained. Just outside the government, Le Pen will be there to stiffen the rightwing, and prevent any concessions. His refusal to support Jacques Chirac in the second round presidential runoff with Socialist Party candidate Lionel Jospin enables him to speak out on social questions too, and to distance himself from any unpopular policies of the new administration.
The National Front vote was
15-20% in 21 of France's 96 territoriol Jonatomonto and territorial départements, and
21% or higher in 11 more. This is a clear increase on the 1988 presidential election
(1-20% in 16 départements, 21% or more in eight). If this pattern is repeated in the municipal elections in November, the
National Front will hold the balance of power in two out of three towns with over
30,000 inhabitants. *
Notes:
1. As compared to 26% of Green voters, 23% of
Trotskyist voters, and 24% of those who voted for the winning candidate, Jacques Chirac of the conservative APR.
Libération, 25 April 1995
Nona Mayer, Special election issue of Ras I'front, no. 29,
June 1995
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International Viewpoint #267 June 1995
Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front
France - the far right
French anti-fascists organise ideas are flourishing. It means ensuring
The main anti-fascist movement, Ras various left organisations are a minority an anti-fascist presence in campaigns
I'front (Fed up with the Front) is not just in the organisation, and the consensus marginalisation and against concerned with the National Front as so far has been to agree on elements such. The "Appeal of 250" which homelessness - two areas where the which can bring the greatest number of
National Front and its scapegoat launched the movement in 1990 anti-fascists together, while leaving propaganda are gaining ground. * stressed that the progression of the far group free each component to right is the result of our retreats".
. The its political popularise own movement argues, therefore, that the interpretation and strategy.
left must stop retreating on social and
In addition, the movement encourages democratic issues, and move onto the debate on a new social project, which offensive, not just against the fascists,
For more information contact could represent a different solution to but against all policies which go in the the current crisis.
Philippe Crottet, Ras I'front, BP same direction - like the racist
It is important to intervene in the anti-
87, 75561 Paris cedex 12, tel. (+33 citizenship laws and new police powers racist demonstrations which generally introduced under former Interior
1 42 64 80 25 follow fascist attacks on blacks and
Minister Charles Pasqua.
Arabs. The participation of anti-fascists
Having recognised that the failures of should strive to carry the greatest
Ras 'front is also part of the
Social Democratic governments, and number of people past the stage of
Socialist or Communist municipa
European Anti-Racist Network, protest, and integrate them into an councils have contributed to the rise in which can be contacted c/o ongoing struggle against racism and support for the far right, Ras front fascism.
Fighting fascism also means
MRAX, 37 rue de la Poste, B-1210 jealously guards its pluralist and campaigning everywhere that fascist independent character. Militants of the
Brussels, Belgium. *
"Jews and Arabs friends and united",
"Our looks aren't against the law"
Several hundred people gathered in the heavily eth-
Seil nic neighbourhood of
Belleville in Paris Monday
May 29, 1995 to protest against alleged racial slurs made by police officers
Depen!
during an identity check
Friday 26 May. Fifteen people were injured Friday when about 250 Arab and
Jewish residents clashed with police after harassment of an Arab resident.
sime
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International Viewpoint #267 June 1995