The new by-election in France are testimony to a conspicuous trend toward the right that does not seem to be abating. Beside demonstrations and other acts of intolerance, the French population at large seems to be moving away from its socialist traditions. And that, is an incredible change for a country that was intrinsically proud of its left leaning ideology.
The latest by-election results seem to show that the far right is gaining ever more momentum, with a far right candidate replacing the disgraced Jerome Cazuhac.
The defeat, furthermore, is humiliating as the socialist candidate vying for Cahuzac's seat came in third place, behind the far right National Front. In fact the far right candidate got almost the same amount of votes as the UMP candidate, who is the incumbent mayor in the local elections, with almost a third of the vote each. Barral, the Socialist candidate only took in 23% of the vote.
Some see this result as nothing more than a backlash prompted by the tax evasion scandal Cazuhac was at the center of. But the signs point to a larger picture. A picture that is distressed, where the national identity has been twisted and shaped into something different and is morphing into something even more ominous, if slightly deranged. This is something that started with Hollande's predecessor, and which has shown that electing a socialist candidate like Hollande, i.e., a return to the socialist party line, has not placated the French's quest for a renewal of the country. And that is where the far right comes in.
Some see this result as nothing more than a backlash prompted by the tax evasion scandal Cazuhac was at the center of. But the signs point to a larger picture. A picture that is distressed, where the national identity has been twisted and shaped into something different and is morphing into something even more ominous, if slightly deranged. This is something that started with Hollande's predecessor, and which has shown that electing a socialist candidate like Hollande, i.e., a return to the socialist party line, has not placated the French's quest for a renewal of the country. And that is where the far right comes in.
The discontent seems to stem from Hollande's hit and miss policies, but if one digs deeper, one sees that the mounting problems with unfettered immigration and other economic woes, are paving the way for both xenophobia and the quest for an 'orderly' form of government, which the far right always promises to fulfill.
The only hope for France then, is to see the far right party out in the following rounds of the elections. But considering their numbers, and a constituency that has changed considerably in the past 2 decades, the far right might not be so easily cast aside. Any further victory on their part, could threaten the very identity of the country, and bring simmering hatreds and ugly sentiments to the fore.
Partial Source : France 24/ 6.16.13
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