Posted on 11/10/2005 12:36:03 PM PST by jb6
Support to Le Pen´s National Front Party increases as riots still go on
In an AP intrerview, Le Pen said people with immigrant backgrounds who commit crimes should be sent "back to their country of origin." If they are French, they should be stripped of their nationality, he added.
Once the flames, if not the anger, recede in France's riot-hit suburbs, a next big challenge for the weakened middle ground of French politics will be beating back far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, for whom the violence could prove an electoral gift.
Already, the anti-immigration zealot who gave France and Europe a fright by making it through to the second and final round of presidential elections in 2002 thinks that the rioting has revived his hopes for the next polls in 2007.
Because many of the youths lobbing gasoline bombs and rocks come from immigrant families, Le Pen said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press that his warnings that "massive immigration" has been disastrous for France have been vindicated.
He claimed that his National Front party has been "submerged" by e-mails of support and is signing up "thousands of new members," although the party's national secretary for new memberships said the figure was closer to 1,000, and that they were requests to join over the past week.
"Le Pen was right"
Voters "are saying to themselves 'Le Pen was right,'" Le Pen said. "We were told that Le Pen is an extremist because he said that immigration problems would lead to disorder. The facts have shown that he was right."
Leading French politics expert Pascal Perrineau agreed that France's worst unrest since the May 1968 student riots have played into Le Pen's hands. While many French voters reject his xenophobic policies, some may be more tempted than ever to vote for the veteran former paratrooper and Foreign Legionnaire to punish mainstream politicians they regard as incompetent and unable to keep the peace or bring down France's nearly 10 percent unemployment rate.
"Le Pen back in the second round of a presidential election is totally possible. Le Pen winning a majority is totally impossible," said Perrineau, director of the Center for Political Research at Paris' esteemed Sciences Po university.
For his part, Le Pen said he is "more than ever" determined in the wake of riots to stand again in 2007. "If there were presidential elections now, my chances would be increased tenfold," he said.
"Just the start"
In the AP interview, Le Pen described the 13 nights of violence as "just the start" of conflicts caused by "massive immigration from countries of the Third World that is threatening not just France but the whole continent."
He said people with immigrant backgrounds who commit crimes should be sent "back to their country of origin." If they are French, they should be stripped of their nationality, he added.
Reminded that the vast majority of youths taking part in the arson and rioting are French, born in France to immigrant parents, he said: "What does that mean? Are they French because they have a French identity card?"
More denial by the French "elites". Elite compared to whom? An invertabrate spunge?
He perobably gained 10-15% more support for the last couple weeks alone.
LOL! Gave France a fright? What were they afraid of? That they'd vote for him?
If I were a Frenchman, I know who I would vote for. LePen is getting long in the tooth, but his daughter--I hear--is part of his movement.
Yeah whether that is a good think or not, I would think all the European nationalist parties have gained strength.
His daughter Marine LE PEn is quite popular.
Were Jean Marie Le Pen decides to give her the leadership of the F.N , she could get more votes.
Lucky for people, Jean Marie is too avid of power, and he refuses to let go.
Le Pen would be maybe good at getting rid of the "racaille", but he is an anti-american,anti-semite,anti-gays,anti-europe.
Kristopher.
the anti-immigration zealot
A zealot? I wonder why he is LIKE that? LoL
Well, outside the fact that all the French politicians are anti-American and anti-Jewish, the rest of what you listed are good points.
If the current trend continues France is going to screw around with the insurgency and wake up one day to realize they elected near-nazis to save them.... all because they wouldn't take reasonable steps faster.
That "gave them a fright" statement is a hoot. As if 13 nights of punk/terrorists didn't frighten anyone.
He seems wanting to have a genuine French identity and values. Let's ask any typical liberal who talk about multiculturalism. Isn't it good that a society wants to keep their identity and value?
It is a shame that many immigrants are put in the same bag as Muslim immigrants.
If Le Pen was only anti-muslims, he would get many votes.Other immigrants in Europe cause no problems, just the ROP followers.
Kristopher.
One day Muslim-Americans will visit the Usama Bin Laden Mosque at Montmarte (which we Christians now know as the Basilique du Sacré Coeur) and all will be fine.
Le Pen is not just strongly anti-Immigration, but he's also strongly anti-Semite.
They said that 18% and trouncing a Socialist was impossible but that's exactly what happened! :-)
In a French election that's enough to win.
I will personally act to resist that, if necessary ...
Because Chirac and his muslim grandkid just love Jews...why he's doing everything he can to help out Israel...really... /sarcasm
Appoint Le Pen as chief of Homeland Security here in the US.
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