Over the past decade, Marine Le Pen has taken significant steps to reshape the image of her National Rally party, attempting to distance it from its reputation for racism and xenophobia. This rebranding included expelling her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and renaming the party. Despite these efforts, a closer examination of her candidates reveals persistent issues.
Controversial Candidates
Many candidates from Le Pen’s National Rally have been involved in scandals ranging from racist remarks to open admiration for Vladimir Putin. These candidates, expected to secure between 230 and 260 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, represent a broad array of extremist views.
- Racist Posts on Social Media:
- Marie-Christine Sorin: Known for stating that “not all civilizations are equal” and some “have remained right above bestiality in the evolutionary chain.”
- Monique Griseti: Suggested that a Black singer should “go back to where he comes from and bring his whole tribe with him.”
- Paule Veyre de Soras: Used having a “Jewish eye doctor” and a “Muslim dentist” as proof of non-racism.
- Putin Admirers:
- Pierre Gentillet: Co-founder of the pro-Russian Pushkin Circle, who traveled to Syria at President Bashar al-Assad’s invitation.
- Frédéric Boccaletti: Acted as an election observer for Russia and has a history of anti-Semitism, owning a bookshop specializing in Holocaust-denying works in the late 1990s.
Party’s Reaction to Controversies
The National Rally’s leadership tends to take one of two approaches when dealing with overtly racist comments by its candidates:
- Yanking Endorsement: This occurs when the behavior crosses a legally actionable line. For example, Ludivine Daoudi withdrew her candidacy after a photo of her in a Nazi uniform cap surfaced.
- Minimizing the Issue: Often, the party shrugs off the controversies unless the scrutiny becomes too intense. Jordan Bardella, the party president, has likened problematic candidates to “black sheep” but often takes minimal action.
Impact on Voters
Despite these controversies, the radical views of these candidates do not seem to harm their electoral chances. In fact, their extremism appears to be a selling point rather than a hindrance. For instance, Frédéric Boccaletti secured 48.3% of the votes in his southern Var district, and Pierre Gentillet also placed first in his district. Nine National Rally candidates who participated in sham election observation missions for Russia passed the first round and could gain seats in the National Assembly.
Challenges Ahead
As the election approaches, Le Pen and Bardella will need to present their party as reasonable, akin to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has maintained a pro-West stance since taking power. However, the National Rally’s internal challenges suggest that Le Pen’s normalization efforts still have significant ground to cover. The upcoming elections will test whether the party can maintain its reformed image or if it will revert to its controversial roots.
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