France's Le Pen says EU 'will die,' globalists to be defeated

That’ll be the real significance of the French elections: the survival or the demise of the EU

Correction:

That’ll be the real significance of the French elections: the survival or the demise of the FN

Vive la France, Vive l'UE!

to shield France from globalisation

LOL what? Empty talking point to tickle the minds of the clueless. That ships already sailed!!

He may be on to something.

Its opposition to the EU and the euro currency underlines an anti-establishment stance that pleases the FN’s grassroots supporters and attracts voters angry with globalisation. But it is also likely to be an obstacle to power in a country where a majority oppose a return to the franc.

This paragraph nails it. The FN has imo become an anti-globalist movement (not to dissimilar from Melenchon's far-left party btw) rather than a traditional (for anglos/world standards) far-right party. Her immigration policies are strict but not too different from what's been done elsewhere by traditional conservatives so it's really her and France's anti-globalists/EU/establishment stance that appeals to ppl, many ppl as roughly 1/3 to 40% of the population will vote for an anti globalist party in the 1st round, which is unique in today's western world.

But as the paragraph quoted says, I still think this very isolationist stance will cost her (and Melenchon) the elections as although many ppl 'dream' of a France and a world without bosses on 8 figure salaries, massive yearly bonuses, Brussels technocrats and would prefer sovereign nations, small farms and businesses rather than multinationals, reality is there is probably no place for this type of nations in today's world. This is why the Frexit Le Pen and Melenchon dream of is completely different from UK's brexit which is/was still firmly on bankers/big corporations side.

arrogant and hegemonic empires are destined to perish,”

Rightists and despots have always used hyperbolic language to rouse their followers.

The EU has helped keep Western European nations from trying to re-establish their respective empire eras.

That the EU has become bloated is obvious; something needs to be done to trim the fat.

But with Russia led by a despot who seems to want to re-establish the Russian empire, the last thing European states should do is re-separate themselves. Western European nations need to stay together to fight off Russian (and American and Chinese) encroachment.

Marine Le Pen will not be instigating the demise of the European Union.

I find it a anathema to debate any aspect of perceived shortcomings of EMU, or EU federalism in the same sentence as Le Pen. Whose views have not changed but morphed into a deceitful mirror, mirror on the wall masquerade, Le Pen believes the French electorate will find politically palatable.

What leftists fear is reversing the collectivism that has been forced upon people. Time for such a reversal.

Sadly for the French, socialism has poisoned the minds of the people, and they now conflate collectivism with liberty, brotherhood, and equality.

What leftists fear is reversing the collectivism that has been forced upon people. Time for such a reversal.

Alix, are you implying that the world we live in is already 'too collectivist' and hasn't begun shifting towards individualism yet?! Can't even imagine what a more individualistic society/world would feel like.

Plus, some would argue ( I would), that Le Pen and Melenchon are fairly close to what we could call 'national collectivism' or national socialism and nowhere near 'reversing collectivism'. That's imo one of her major difference with guys like Trump or Farage or most anglo populists who want to build the world you dream of where winners keep winning (and more) and there is no place for losers i.e 'the others'.

MLP has many, many flaws but being ultra capitalist isn't one of them.

@AlixH What leftists fear is reversing the collectivism that has been forced upon people.

I think those favoring authoritarian nationalism - like Russia has always had - are a distinct minority. Europeans are well aware of their history and recognize some form of collectivism is required to prevent the nastiness of nationalism happening again.