France's Deja Vu: The Presidential Elections

Posted by Madison Ross on Apr 26, 2017 9:03:18 PM

Photo, Courtesy of ABC News.jpg

France may or may not be repeating history in its 2017 presidential elections. After Friday’s primary elections, Alissa J. Rubin from the New York Times describes the top two candidates as follows: “One is a political novice, the other a far-right firebrand—both outsiders, but with starkly different visions for the country.”

We have Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen advancing into the second and final round of the French presidential elections, both unconventional and emerging from outside the traditional left-right party structure.

Introducing Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron, french politician, senior civil servant, form investment banker, and member of the En Marche! (EM!) party, which he founded. EM! can be otherwise known as le association pour le renouvellement de la vie politique, a.k.a. the association for renewing political life, and it is a rather social-liberal and progressive party advocating ideologies like re-evaluation of policies especially for economic and sustainable development.

Now, let’s look at Marion Anne Perrine "Marine" Le Pen, French lawyer, politician, and former president of the National Front party. Founded in 1972, this party is in support of France leaving the European Union like how the U.K. did, meaning we could possibly have a Frexit, which may or may not lead to the end of the EU as we know it, considering Italy and Germany could follow their lead. There’s also a no-tolerance policy in laws regarding migration. Le Pen recently stepped down as president of the party to concentrate on this year’s presidential elections.

Deja vu? J'ai vu cela avant.

We’ve faced a lot of interesting political outcomes in the past year with the United States and the U.K., but as votes come in today and tomorrow, France may or may not continue the trend.

Et maintenant, nous attendons. Learn more with the lovely John Oliver, who offers his take on the French elections.

Topics: study abroad, culture, politics, France, frexit