How Emmanuel Macron Turned France to the Hard Right
In the wake of the 2024 European Parliament elections, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) emerged as the dominant force in French politics, winning in 94% of the country’s districts. The result highlighted a growing divide between France’s rural and urban areas, with small and medium-sized towns and rural regions, which once represented the middle class, now serving as strongholds for populist anger. These areas have endured decades of economic decline, marked by cuts and redundancies that have left many residents feeling abandoned and disillusioned with traditional political elites.
The success of the RN in these regions signals a larger political and social shift that Emmanuel Macron’s presidency has unwittingly exacerbated. In response to the RN’s victory, Macron dissolved the National Assembly, and France is now preparing for a parliamentary election at the end of June 2024. This decision, along with the dominance of the far-right in the recent vote, could potentially reshape France’s electoral landscape even further. The RN’s newfound strength poses a direct challenge to Macron’s centrist vision, highlighting the growing resentment among France’s “peripheral” citizens who feel alienated from the country’s political and economic power centers.
The election results illustrate a stark geographic and cultural division within France, one that Macron’s policies have struggled to address. While the metropolitan areas remain firmly behind Macron’s government, the rural regions are increasingly turning to populist movements, driving a wedge between the elites and the disenfranchised. This division is emblematic of a broader crisis in the West, where the traditional economic and cultural models are failing to meet the needs and expectations of large segments of the population.
As the country braces for another round of voting, the question remains whether Macron’s response will be enough to reverse the rising tide of the far-right. The RN’s success in these elections reflects a deepening dissatisfaction with the status quo and the political elite, suggesting that France is undergoing a profound transformation that could redefine its political future.
