For Rafael Lorca, a researcher at the Jean Jaurès Foundation, doing an emotional reading of France at this time was necessary given the political earthquake the country had experienced. According to him, society suffers from “what we might call fascist anxiety.” He added: “In other words, fear of what it means for the extreme right to come to power.”
Writer Hervé Le Tellier confirms the existence of feeling. He said: “What we had until today was the extreme right imposed by the Nazis in France. Now, this is being done through the ballot box.”
Pain and fear also prompted more than two hundred political figures in France, including former ministers from different parties, to publish a joint message calling for unity between democratic forces in order to defeat far-right candidates in every electoral district.
The far right remains what it has always been: an enemy of democracy and a promoter of hatred.
French Personalities Table
Also in a coordinated way, dozens of French athletes who represented the country in international competitions signed a joint declaration stating that they “will not give in to seeing the far right come to power in France.” Among them were tennis player Yannick Noah, François Gabart, Marie-José Perec, Marion Bartoli and Johan Diniz.
The elections are still being watched in major capitals in Europe and the world, with a focus on what could be a new chapter in the history of the far-right's progress. This time, in the heart of enlightenment.
