French minister foresees possible victory for Marine Le Pen in 2027
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French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin warns that the far-right National Rally party is making Marine Le Pen more likely to win the 2027 presidential election.
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French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin attends a government emergency meeting in Paris, on Friday, June 30, 2023. (AP)
In an interview with La Voix du Nord, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said that the far-right National Rally party stands a strong chance of winning the 2027 presidential election.
As Darmanin positions himself as a potential contender for the center-right, he emphasized the need to address societal concerns in order to counter Le Pen's growing influence.
Darmanin, known for his role in overseeing French policing, has faced backlash from the public after a police shooting and a surge in violent riots across various cities.
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Following this outcry and subsequent deterioration of popular support for him and his government, Darmanin is set to hold a political gathering aimed at strategizing ways to thwart Le Pen's momentum and regain the support of working-class and middle-class voters.
Darmanin's recent remarks indicate his concern that Le Pen's appeal could cut across traditional party lines, particularly among working-class and middle-class citizens.
He believes that addressing issues such as wages, living costs, and family support will be crucial in preventing Le Pen's victory. Darmanin's emphasis on societal concerns rather than migration echoes his belief that these factors are what truly resonate with the electorate.
Darmanin subtly criticized Macron by saying that relying solely on support from the "professional classes" would not be sufficient to secure victory.
He contends that a broader appeal is necessary, pointing to a desire among working-class individuals for greater authority in schools and stronger law enforcement.
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Darmanin is striving to position himself as the preferred candidate for working families. Despite his proximity to Macron and his past involvement in implementing the president's tax reforms, Darmanin is contemplating a potential run in the 2027 election.
His appointment as interior minister in 2020 sparked controversy, as he faced accusations of rape and misconduct dating back to 2009. Although he vehemently denied the charges, they resurfaced during his tenure, drawing attention from critics.
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Back on August 14, Darmanin told Le Figaro "What interests me is no longer to look at what happened in 2017 and 2022. What worries me now is what will happen in 2027".
Darmanin warned against "putting our future" in the hands of technocrats and "using words that the French do not always understand."
"We must speak from the heart, not with statistics," he added, adding that if the wrong candidate is brought in, then "Marine Le Pen will be elected."
The minister in President Emmanuel Macron's government has responded during his term to a number of challenges since being assigned in 2020, including confronting the UK on its migration policy, unwavering support to the police in its internal practices, and most recently its brutality against the nationwide protests that erupted after law enforcement killed Algerian-Morccon teenager Nahel Merzouk at point blank.
