25 April - 1 May 2002
Issue No.583
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 25 April - 1 May 2002 Issue No.583 |
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Shock and shame
The French political establishment is torn by the rise of far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen as a leading political player, reports Laila Hafez from Paris
After four months of dull electoral campaigning, many seemingly apathetic voters chose none other than Jean-Marie Le Pen. Those who didn't took to the streets by the thousands, in many French cities, to express their disdain, and most of all "their shame."
France was faced with the painful truths. First, the far right is gaining ground inside the French political mainstream and fast overwhelming the democratic institutions of France. The second is that everyone, the left, the centre right and the average man on the street, were responsible for Le Pen's inching ever closer to the centre of power.
For the first time since the end of the Second World War and the end of the Vichy regime, the far right is in the ascendancy. About 20 per cent voted for the far right, either by supporting Bruno Megret, leader of the "National Movement for the Republic" or Le Pen, leader of the "National Front." This fact is sending shock waves through a Europe that has not yet fully recovered from the implications of Haider's, albeit short-lived, power in Austria, and Berlesconi's election in Italy.
The rapidly improving political fortunes of Le Pen sent shock waves to all minorities and immigrant communities of contemporary France. Many African minorities have been living in France for several generations but are still trying to assimilate into French society. They have taken up the manual jobs that the French would not do. The danger of explosive social unrest grips the entire country.
So who is to blame? Since the start of the electoral campaign in January 2002, the left was hopelessly divided. And when the campaign officially started, there were five leftist parties beside the Socialist party itself. These divisions were caused by the Socialist party's attempt to present a manifesto that would appeal to center voters. Jospin, himself did not conceal this rightward dispensation. On the contrary, he said, "My programme is not socialist." This trend encouraged the extreme left to present itself very strongly in the elections with Arlette Laguiller being marketed as a potential third option who could influence the results of the second round.
But the division of the left was its undoing. The electorate lost any vestiges of respect for the left. The Communist party ended up with the worst score it has ever had -- a paltry three per cent. Arlette Laguiller came a poor fifth. As for the socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, he was eliminated and unceremoniously disappeared from the political stage.
The centre right, led by President Jacques Chirac, had a similar problem to that faced by the left. Votes were split between five rival centre-right parties.
Obviously, five years of "co-habitation" with a socialist government has seriously compromised the office of the presidency.
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