Analysis

Detoxifying France's National Front


Listen Later

Has Front National leader Marine Le Pen really detoxified the party founded by her father 40 years ago? Is it a right-wing protest movement or a party seriously preparing for power? Anand Menon, professor of European politics at Kings College London, analyses the process the French call Dédiabolisation. Le Pen has banished the name of the party and even her own surname from election posters and leaflets. Her party is making inroads into socialist and communist fiefdoms in northern and eastern France. Combining nationalism with a message designed to reach out to the left, she speaks up loudly for the have-nots, people who live in the land she calls "the forgotten France." She targets trade unionists, teachers and gay voters. But widening the party's appeal leads to a tricky balancing act. Can Marine Le Pen manage the process of political exorcism without alienating die-hard supporters?

Producer: Lucy Ash.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

AnalysisBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

195 ratings


More shows like Analysis

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,681 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

366 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

892 Listeners

Intelligence Squared by Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

787 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,043 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,425 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,787 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

954 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,786 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,091 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,916 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

426 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

415 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

298 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

67 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

738 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

244 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

70 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

651 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,178 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,186 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

729 Listeners

Sideways by BBC Radio 4

Sideways

73 Listeners