Populism Talks

Interview by Selcuk Gultasli

Giving an interview to the European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS), Professor Jean-Yves Camus, a researcher at the Observatory of Political Radicalities at the Jean Jaurès Foundation in Paris, underscores that France’s 2026 municipal elections reveal not only the continued advance of the National Rally / Rassemblement National (RN) but, more importantly, a gradual reconfiguration of the right in which the lines separating mainstream conservatism and radical populism are increasingly porous at the local level. 

Reflecting on what he calls a “mixed bag” outcome, Professor Camus notes that the RN has achieved “a substantial gain” by winning 57 municipalities and securing over 3,000 council seats, yet “failed in all major cities and metropolises.” This dual pattern—territorial expansion alongside persistent urban resistance—captures the paradox at the heart of contemporary French politics. While the party has consolidated its presence in “small and medium-sized cities”and in economically distressed regions such as Pas-de-Calais and Moselle, it continues to face structural limits in gentrified metropolitan centers like Paris, where “the extreme right is very weak for obvious sociological reasons.” 

Yet, the most consequential development, as Professor Camus emphasizes, lies not simply in where the RN wins or loses, but in how it increasingly interacts with the broader right-wing ecosystem. In several regions, particularly along the Mediterranean corridor, “the core voters of the Conservatives… are very close to voters of the National Rally,”facilitating patterns of vote transfer and informal cooperation. This dynamic signals a shift from the once rigid cordon sanitaire toward what Professor Camus describes as a more “selective” Republican front, contingent on local contexts and strategic calculations. 

The significance of Éric Ciotti’s victory in Nice further illustrates this transformation. While rooted in the city’s longstanding conservative and post-colonial sociological profile, the result also points to a deeper convergence: “locally… the Republicans and the National Rally have platforms that are very similar.” In this sense, Ciotti’s ascent functions as both a local phenomenon and a symbolic “vitrine,” enabling the RN to present itself as part of a broader conservative continuum rather than an isolated extremist force. 

At the national level, however, this convergence remains contested. Professor Camus highlights an unresolved strategic dilemma within Les Républicains, torn between maintaining ideological autonomy and pursuing alignment with the RN. As he cautions, any such coalition would likely be asymmetrical: “the dynamic is on the side of the National Rally… the agenda will be set by the National Rally.” 

Taken together, the interview suggests that France is not witnessing a straightforward normalization of the far right, but rather a more complex process of political recomposition. The RN’s rise is embedded in enduring socioeconomic grievances and cultural anxieties, yet its ultimate trajectory will depend on whether the boundaries that once separated it from the mainstream right continue to erode—or are strategically reasserted—in the run-up to 2027. 

Here is the edited version of our interview with Professor Jean-Yves Camus, revised slightly to improve clarity and flow: https://www.populismstudies.org/profe...

Interview by Selcuk Gultasli - In the aftermath of Nepal’s 2026 general election, a new political moment has captured global attention. The rise of Balendra “Balen” Shah and the Rastriya Swatantra Party has been widely framed as a generational revolt—driven by youth mobilization and a rejection of entrenched elites.

But is this truly a democratic breakthrough?

In this episode of Populisms Talks, Dr. Sanjeev Humagain (Nepal Open University) offers a sharp, theoretically grounded analysis of Nepal’s shifting political landscape. He challenges celebratory narratives of rupture, arguing instead that the election represents a “critical juncture” shaped by long-standing institutional fragility, elite circulation, and deeply embedded populist practices.

As Dr. Humagain explains, while voters have clearly rejected the old order, a coherent alternative has yet to emerge. The result is a paradox: political renewal without clear direction. With institutions weakened and populism already entrenched, the central question becomes whether democratic accountability can be rebuilt—or further eroded.

Is Nepal witnessing transformation, or simply a new phase of populist politics?