Julien Mercille: March of the National Front

The Revenant

The Front National’s (FN) historic breakthrough in the recent French regional elections has raised fears throughout Europe. Its leader, Marine Le Pen, is now a serious contender for the presidency in 2017. What does the party stand for? Why is it popular? And how can it be slowed down?

Although usually described as far-right, the FN is better conceived as a patriotic party that is socially conservative on cultural and identity issues while ...