Fascism on the Rise Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show · Burt Cohen

On the French Election: First Far Right Regime Since WWII?

·58 min·3 clips

About 45% of the French working class is moving toward the far right, versus 28% toward the left.

1. Keeping Democracy Alive covers France’s snap election and the question of whether a far right regime could emerge after World War II. 2. Bert Cohen hosts Oliver Haynes, a freelance journalist who covers politics, culture, and social movements and co-hosts FLEP24 on the French elections. 3. The episode asks whether Macron’s snap election is a gamble, a trap for the far right, or a sign that the center has broken down. 4. Haynes says the June 6th to June 9th European Parliament vote showed far right gains in France and Germany rather than a uniform EU result. 5. He gives France’s results as 31% for the Rassemblement National, 14% for Macron’s bloc, 14% for the Parti Socialiste, 10% for La France Insoumise, and 5% for the Greens. 6. He says the EU Parliament is weak because much real power sits with the Commission, the Eurogroup, and the European Central Bank. 7. Haynes argues that the post-2008 and 2012 crisis environment, plus low turnout and anger about migration, helped far right parties. 8. He says media and politicians often turn refugee crime or immigrant crime into evidence against entire ethnic groups. 9. He describes Macron as someone who attacks the left with far right language while treating the far right as a more acceptable rival. 10. He points to Macron’s 2017 and 2022 presidential campaigns as examples of the president presenting himself as the only barrier to Le Pen. 11. Haynes outlines two theories for the snap election: a Pedro Sanchez-style tactical move and an "inoculation" plan. 12. Under the inoculation theory, Macron would allow limited far right power in cohabitation and then hope voters reject it in 2027. 13. He says Macron has long treated the left as the main enemy and has used terms like "immigrationist" and "degenerate" against it. 14. He cites Sophie Pedder’s book and Macron’s remark about wanting a "clause four moment" before election, meaning a break from left-wing commitments before governing. 15. He says the New Popular Front formed after student, youth, protest, and union pressure, with François Ruffin calling for a new popular front against fascism. 16. The coalition includes La France Insoumise, Philippe Poutou’s anti-capitalists, the Greens, the Parti Socialiste, and Place Publique, despite deep internal tensions. 17. The manifesto promises price controls, a 60 retirement age, more public housing, stronger hospitals, reduced class sizes, and a move toward the Sixth Republic. 18. Haynes describes the tone as highly political and densely packed, with Cohen interrupting occasionally to connect French developments to the United States. 19. People following French elections, European politics, and anti-far-right organizing would get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners wanting a light or non-political conversation would probably skip it.

As heard by us

A sober look at why France's snap election became a test of democratic nerve.

This episode treats France's snap election as a warning light for Europe. It links the far right's rise to anger at Macron, the fading taboo around it, Trump's and Orban's influence, frustration over decisions made elsewhere, the Lisbon Treaty fight, and cost of living pressure.

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Why you'd press play

You want a plainspoken guide to France's snap-election crisis and the far right's rise.

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