Last week, Emmanuel Macron became the first French president for more than 40 years to make an official visit to the town of Vichy in order to speak about its history. Around 30% of French voters plan to cast their ballot next spring either for Mr Zemmour’s reactionary agenda or for Marine Le Pen. But it is vital that France’s traditional centre-right party remains within the political mainstream, and does not succumb to what has been described as the “Zemmourisation” of French political debate. For her part, Ms Pécresse will naturally seek to navigate the most viable route to the Élysée in the spring. But as France swings right, it must be hoped that she does not sell her party’s soul in the process.

Source: The Guardian December 13, 2021 04:27 UTC