France’s Populist Surge Is a Cautionary Tale for America’s Right

As American conservatives grapple with the future of populism beyond Trump’s final term, France provides a sobering reminder: Populist anger can storm the gates of power, but only fiscal discipline can hold the fortress. In France, French authorities’ use of “lawfare” against Marine Le Pen has paradoxically boosted her National Rally (RN), sending it soaring in polls and making a takeover in 2027 increasingly plausible, much like how Alvin Bragg’s case strengthened Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron, reduced to appointing his fifth prime minister in two years, has watched his coalition crumble over unpopular attempts at entitlement reform and welfare tightening. In opposing these reforms, National Rally sadly mirrors so many other right-populist movements — including in America — who refuse to tackle entitlement spending, pretending instead that (well-needed) immigration reform is enough to get back on track.

As American conservatives grapple with the future of populism beyond Trump’s final term, France provides a sobering reminder: Populist anger can storm the gates of power, but only fiscal discipline can hold the fortress. In France, French authorities’ use of “lawfare” against Marine Le Pen has paradoxically boosted her National Rally (RN), sending it soaring in polls and making a takeover in 2027 increasingly plausible, much like how Alvin Bragg’s case strengthened Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron, reduced to appointing his fifth prime minister in two years, has watched his coalition crumble over unpopular attempts at entitlement reform and welfare tightening. In opposing these reforms, National Rally sadly mirrors so many other right-populist movements — including in America — who refuse to tackle entitlement spending, pretending instead that (well-needed) immigration reform is enough to get back on track.

JG

About the Author

John Gustavsson

John Gustavsson is a writer from Sweden and holds a doctorate in economics. He is Senior Editor of Nation & Citizenship at Restoring the West and a former adviser to the Sweden Democrats in the European Parliament.