PoliticsAmid France’s political ‘fragmentation’, ‘a case needs to be made for participatory democracy’

Historian Andrew Smith says Marine Le Pen and the National Rally’s lead in early presidential polling should not be treated as an inevitable far-right victory. The party benefits from clarity, unity and tightly focused messaging, while the left, centre and centre-right remain divided. He sees the polling as reflecting anger, anxiety, economic insecurity and political fatigue in a fragmented electorate, rather than simply growing polarisation.

France politicspresidential electionNational Rallyparticipatory democracy

FFrance 24★★★☆☆2026-09-15 08:01Original