If the French political establishment misinterprets their "great victory" today and tries to stamp out the Right, there will be a severe counterreaction. Governments that try to deny the reality of a changing mood of the electorate are not going to last very long.
You make a fine point here. A point that the Socialists and the Euro-elites will deny until their last breath. This was not a moral victory gained by persuasion, challenging ideologies,debating issues and arguing policy.
It was an overwhelming attack by the media, to foist their opinions on a nation.
Any situation between immigrants and French aboriginals over the next four years; that leads to bloodshed will only strenghten the National Front, a pyrrhic victort indeed.
I doubt if there is an intellectual in France capable of writing a "J'Accuse" letter against the assinine policies of the Left.