In May 2017, Emmanuel Macron, freshly elected as France’s president, addressed his supporters with a promise to bridge the nation’s divides and win over voters who had backed his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen. Le Pen, leader of the National Front (now rebranded as National Rally), had secured over 10.6 million votes—a historic high for her party. Macron vowed to address the “anger” and “distress” driving these voters, pledging to eliminate their reasons for supporting extremist parties. However, as Macron’s presidency nears its end, this promise lies in ruins. Le Pen’s nativist rhetoric, targeting immigrants, Muslims, and the European Union, has gained millions of converts. National Rally, shedding its controversial past under Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has become the largest party in parliament and is poised for a potential victory in the 2027 elections.
AP mapping shows France’s poorest regions backing Le Pen’s party as support for Macron wanes
