Right-wing populists and nationalists have been sweeping into power across the world in recent years, from Brexit Britain to the US under Donald Trump, from Hungary with Viktor Orbán to Argentina with Javier Milei.
France is likely to be one of the next countries to fall under the sway of the far-right, which will have incalculable consequences for its European neighbours and for the world. Since the 1980s, author and journalist Victor Mallet has observed the inexorable rise of the anti-immigration Front National – now the Rassemblement National – first under the late Jean-Marie Le Pen and now under his daughter Marine Le Pen, who recently anointed her young and charismatic protégé Jordan Bardella as successor.
Far-right France: Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe explains how they began to dominate French politics and asks what happens next in a liberal democracy that was one of the founders of the European Union and is a crucial member of the Nato alliance confronting Russia.
Pre-order now from Hurst, from your favourite bookshop, or from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon France, or Amazon.com.
Jordan Bardella at a book-signing in Beaucaire for his autobiography, Nov 2024
Victor Mallet: author and journalist 