Posted on 04/21/2022 5:16:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
Next Sunday, French voters will decide on their next president. While most of the country and the rest of the world are united, for valid reasons, against populist Marine Le Pen, the truth of the matter is that voters have a choice between two shades of illiberalism: the aggressively populist one of Le Front National and its authoritarianism-light version represented by incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.
Le Pen is everything observers around the world are saying she is. She is anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim, taking positions among the worst that populism has to offer. She's also obsessed with "wokisme," a catchall word for the "leftist" ideologies she dislikes. Unsurprisingly, she admires Hungary's authoritarian leader, Viktor Orban, and would happily follow in his footsteps by imposing his economic policies, as well as his practice of using whatever powers necessary to crush the opposition.
Le Pen is far more polished than her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Founder of the Front National, Pere Le Pen is a diehard antisemite who called the Holocaust a mere "detail" of history. But this polish only makes her more dangerous. And while her critics call her a far-right candidate, on economic issues, she's a typical French statist, favorable to large spending and centralization of powers.
She is without a doubt an authoritarian, and more authoritarianism would be bad news for France. Yet it doesn't follow that her opponent represents liberal governance even if he compares favorably to her.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
“anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim”
I don’t see a problem here. France should forcibly repatriate 90% of the muzzies and africans they let in.
I’ve always had the impression that populism is basically catering to what the people want. Not just lying to them to get elected, but actually delivering on what the people want. Am I mistaken in this understanding?
If my understanding is correct, then why is populism used as a word to denigrate instead of celebrate? It seems to me that a populist candidate would be exactly who should be elected.
Its almost as if the media and the powers that be want to do things other than what their people want. Why is that a good thing?
Yep. Whites left Africa, time for non Whites to leave Europe.
Fixed it.
Because the country is “too white”.
She will lose 40-60.
I have noticed this going on for a while. They did this with Trump, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich. It's a way of minimizing/discrediting what they stand for.
Doggies!
That Marine Le Pen must be pretty damn good to rate a hit piece this bad in Townhall.
OMG, “She is anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim” and her father was (maybe) anti-Semitic.
If I were French, I would vote for her, at least once.
Especially with Zelenskyy endorsing Macron on tv yesterday…
Two f’ing dirtbags.
Betteridge's law of headlines is an adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."
Sounds great, right?
Until you read down to this bit..
...Volunteers count the ballots one by one. Officials will then use state-run software to register and report results more efficiently...
I'll bet.
>> If my understanding is correct, then why is populism used as a word to denigrate instead of celebrate?
Because “the people” are the unwashed, uneducated masses, who base their vote on emotions, not rational thinking.
They also often want to get back at those above them, like the people who mess up their world by fencing in the land for sheep or shipping manufacturing jobs overseas...
Orban who just won an election? That authoritarian?
But this polish only makes her more dangerous. And while her critics call her a far-right candidate, on economic issues, she's a typical French statist, favorable to large spending and centralization of powers.
Translation: She wants to take charge and fix things.
https://townhall.com/columnists/veroniquederugy/ Veronique De Rugy doesn't like nationalism. Hit Load More a few times to see how she disliked Trump the nationalist.
It is a “good thing” as it keeps them in power.
That is all.
So what is ze problemme? Madame Le Pen ees good for ze France, non?
Veronique de Rugy tosses this opinion into her mush-mash of an article with opprobrium. It seems to me more of a virtue.
Excellent. 👍
“Authoritarian.” If it is legitimate and strives toward peace and order, it is a positive attribute.
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