The people of France are in an extraordinary funk about their future – here’s why
The race to succeed Emmanuel Macron is looming, but rarely has the mood been so gloomy or the lure of extremist solutions so alarming
TL;DR
- France is in a sullen mood ahead of the next presidential election, with anti-immigration populist Marine Le Pen having a strong chance to win.
- Historical factors contributing to France's unique political malaise include a tradition of a centralized state, high expectations of public services leading to high taxation, and a history of violent protest.
- Declining Christian identity and the rise of Islam have stirred anxieties, exploited by right-wing politicians and media.
- A perceived ossified elite, trained at the ENA, is seen as remote from ordinary citizens' concerns.
- Widespread public pessimism, anxiety about identity, declining public services, cost of living, and disillusionment with the political establishment characterize the current mood.
- Economic unrealism makes France susceptible to simplistic solutions proposed by parties like the National Rally and radical leftists.
- The risk is that French voters may choose with their emotions rather than their heads, a prospect that is alarming given the current geopolitical and fiscal peril.