Lately the world has shown a restored taste for strongman leaders. Of course we have the rise of Donald Trump here in the States, but we also have Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey and a resurgence of Vladimir Putin in Russia – among others.
France is not immune to this renewed global fascination with strongman leaders – only in France that leader isn’t a man. Her name is Marine Le Pen, and she just released her first political ad. In a video that has collectively been viewed 2 million times, the Front National leader denounces “the ever-increasing restrictions” on French liberty, “Islamic fundamentalism,” and do-nothing politicians who “have lied, failed and betrayed,” France.
We see Le Pen flipping through a photo album. She pauses on a picture of her younger self. “I am a woman,” she says. “And as such I experience the ever-increasing restrictions on our liberty in our country through the development of Islamic fundamentalism like an act of violence.”
In the style of a more traditional introduction ad, Le Pen rehashes her resume – “I am a mother… I am a lawyer… I am intensely, proudly, loyally and resolutely French.” We see footage of Le Pen riding on the back of a white stallion before the shot cuts into one of a statue of Joan of Arc at the Place des Pyramides in Paris, near where Joan of Arc was wounded during her failed attempt to capture Paris.
That very statue has become a symbol in far-right French politics. Every May Day, the National Front – the party Le Pen leads – holds an annual ceremony at the statue to honor the historic French heroine. Marine Le Pen herself is often called “a modern Joan of Arc” by some supporters.
“Your choice for the upcoming presidential election is crucial, fundamental. It’s a determining choice for civilization,” Le Pen insists.
“Either you continue with those who have lied, failed and betrayed, who have misled the people and lost France, or you decide to restore the order to France. Yes. I want to restore order to France.”
She ends the ad with unveiling her campaign slogan – the “Make America Great Again” of France: “En votre nom, au nom du peuple!” In your name, in the name of the people.
To many Americans, the reason for Le Pen and her party’s popularity probably sounds pretty familiar. La Pen’s father founded Front National, and it quickly became known as a very far right – and by some accounts extreme – party. Le Pen ousted her father and made her own reputation for leader the demoralized party back together. She is known to be aggressive, but takes no nonsense. Like Trump, she clings to populist ideologies like protection, security, swift justice and a general “Make France great again” attitude.
Also like Trump, many thought there was no way she could ever win any prominent position in government – until she did. The French election is even being described by some as “Marine Le Pen vs a collapsing French establishment,” echoing similar fears that preceded Trump’s election in the U.S.
We will find out in May if “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” gets replaced with, “au nom de peuple.”
France is not immune to this renewed global fascination with strongman leaders – only in France that leader isn’t a man. Her name is Marine Le Pen, and she just released her first political ad. In a video that has collectively been viewed 2 million times, the Front National leader denounces “the ever-increasing restrictions” on French liberty, “Islamic fundamentalism,” and do-nothing politicians who “have lied, failed and betrayed,” France.
Marine Le Pen: ‘Au Nom Do Peuple!’
Marine Le Pen’s first political ad is awash in symbolism from start to finish. The ad opens with Le Pen, standing on a beach, staring at the vast open ocean. She talks about her “visceral and passionate” love for her country, and its “spontaneous and tenacious people.”We see Le Pen flipping through a photo album. She pauses on a picture of her younger self. “I am a woman,” she says. “And as such I experience the ever-increasing restrictions on our liberty in our country through the development of Islamic fundamentalism like an act of violence.”
In the style of a more traditional introduction ad, Le Pen rehashes her resume – “I am a mother… I am a lawyer… I am intensely, proudly, loyally and resolutely French.” We see footage of Le Pen riding on the back of a white stallion before the shot cuts into one of a statue of Joan of Arc at the Place des Pyramides in Paris, near where Joan of Arc was wounded during her failed attempt to capture Paris.
That very statue has become a symbol in far-right French politics. Every May Day, the National Front – the party Le Pen leads – holds an annual ceremony at the statue to honor the historic French heroine. Marine Le Pen herself is often called “a modern Joan of Arc” by some supporters.
“Your choice for the upcoming presidential election is crucial, fundamental. It’s a determining choice for civilization,” Le Pen insists.
“Either you continue with those who have lied, failed and betrayed, who have misled the people and lost France, or you decide to restore the order to France. Yes. I want to restore order to France.”
She ends the ad with unveiling her campaign slogan – the “Make America Great Again” of France: “En votre nom, au nom du peuple!” In your name, in the name of the people.
Make Liberal Democracy Great Again?
In terms of global politics, Donald Trump’s rise to power was no unique event – in fact it follows a trend of authoritarianism that not even the United States is immune to in the era of globalization.To many Americans, the reason for Le Pen and her party’s popularity probably sounds pretty familiar. La Pen’s father founded Front National, and it quickly became known as a very far right – and by some accounts extreme – party. Le Pen ousted her father and made her own reputation for leader the demoralized party back together. She is known to be aggressive, but takes no nonsense. Like Trump, she clings to populist ideologies like protection, security, swift justice and a general “Make France great again” attitude.
Also like Trump, many thought there was no way she could ever win any prominent position in government – until she did. The French election is even being described by some as “Marine Le Pen vs a collapsing French establishment,” echoing similar fears that preceded Trump’s election in the U.S.
We will find out in May if “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” gets replaced with, “au nom de peuple.”