The story of the French far rights unstoppable risefrom the woes of a broken society to the powerful personalities upending the status quo.Frances next presidential election is due by 2027 at the latest; and the far-right Rassemblement National is favoured to win.Founded by the antisemitic Jean-Marie Le Pen, the RNpreviously the Front Nationalwas a fringe entity until daughter Marine took over. She detoxified the party, then brought in telegenic young protg Jordan Bardella as its face in the 2020s. Together, they echo voters economic grievances and disgust at French political culture, while blasting mass immigration of Muslims and foreign criminalsall starkly reminiscent of Donald Trumps strategy in winning the White House. Francecentral to the European projectis the far rights next great prize.In 2024, the RN became the largest party in both the EU Parliament and the French Assembly. In vivid, sharp prose, from the halls of power to the campaign trail, veteran correspondent Victor Mallet explains how the far right won over the country and became a government in waitingone preparing to transform France, Europe and the world.
