french elections are going great for the far right
Well, expected sadly. FN polling on top nationally by a point is not that important by itself, although it is still a victory for them. It should be noted that they did so despite a slightly increased voter turnout, so it's gonna be harder to just handwave the thing as some sort of temper tantrum with no real deep ingrainment.
"There's not <X>% of xenophobic, racists, fascists voters in France", there's totally is, the FN has been around long enough now, don't tell me people casting their votes are unaware of their platform.
They gathered the most voters in 6 regions out of 13 (regions were redesigned for this election from a previous 22) and do over 40% in North-Pas de Calais-Picardy & Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur, so they will probably win there regardless of any political deals going on (Socialist lists are to be pulled back already). Lead elsewhere is less substantial but when all is said and done they could very well take 4 to 6 regions total.
I haven't watched debate night because it's already depressing as it is and I already know that the issue will continue to be viewed through blinders. The far right is riding on the systemic economic problem (unemployment), what is perceived -not without some justification- as an imposed European integration process that mostly serve major economic interests with too few benefits and rights for the common citizen, the fossilization of the traditional parties and political system and a hefty amount of xenophobia and belief that they will be the Providential Men able to carry some amount of necessary shake up.
The last 2 are largely "unadressable" (I expect the providential aura to dispel quite a bit upon contact with real responsibilities) but all the others are real problems that the traditional parties are not adressing properly. And they will probably continue to do so until at least the next presidential election likely nasty results, which is the key and central event of politics here.
