Jean-Marie Le Pen’s emergence as the sole challenger to President Jacques Chirac in the second round of France’s presidential election has proved to be a Rorschach test for political journalists. The famous Rorschach ink blot was just a random blob of ink— but when people were asked to say what they saw in it, they revealed the most embarrassing contents of their subconscious minds.
Le Pen’s success was likewise of modest significance. He defeated the socialist, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, by less than one percentage point when a crowded field of candidates had splintered the Left vote. He had increased his own vote by only 2 percent over his 1995 showing. And opinion polls suggest he will add only a few more percentage points in the runoff on May 5.
Comments