The results in the EU election are hardly a surprise. Nor will they change much. People protesting about things that need to be done but they don’t like because it impacts them personally, has always happened. Populists appealing to selfish instincts will therefore always gain ground. With the “hard right” parties having significantly different agendas there will be as much argument between them as between them and the centre.

Macron calling an election is more relevant. That he has become unpopular is obvious. That Le Pen has tried to present herself as a moderate no less so. Macron will still be President whatever happens but might have a sexy young hard right PM to work with. Which would be interesting to watch.

The big test comes the next time the French vote for their President. Will the wheel turn enough that time for Le Pen to finally get over the line. If so how would the French react to actually having her in power, rather than just talking about having it? It would take a while because there’s always a honeymoon period but I suspect they would soon get disillusioned. There would doubtless be tensions with the EU over the need to pursue clean policies so electing Le Pen would hardly be an investment in the longer term needs of Europe. We will see. Whether I will see it all is another question.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It would not be good for the UK, the new French Government would be providing the boats for the migrants

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

We shouldn't require the help of the French to police our own borders.

Any government worth its salt would never have signed up to laws that tied our own hands on our borders or deporting foreigners.

These problems are given to us from the Blair years and continued on via the neo and social liberals who came after.

Any Conservative government worth the name would have planned to throw out Blair's laws the moment it took office. Instead the types of Tories in the leaderships worshiped him.

Edited by Stirlingsays (10 Jun 2024 10.01am)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Tent cities , filled with asylum seeker men, .....if you express any outrage or disapproval then you must be 'Far Right'

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

Am somewhat concerned describing Le Pen, 55, as young and sexy but I guess she's much younger than Mrs Macron

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.