2017 French Presidential Election

[Dr. Jack]

I have read articles all year about how this election is just like 2016 or just like 1992 or just like 1984 or just like 1968 or just like 1948. I've also read articles that compare Trump to George HW Bush, Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Herbert Hoover, and even Jeb Bush. Or how Biden is just like Hillary Clinton, Obama, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, or George Dewey. There are a lot of claims that this election is like this previous American election or that Biden or Trump are just like such and such politican from our history. But I do wonder if we shouldn't be looking outside of the U.S. to see where this election is headed and I propose we look at France in 2017. There are a lot of parelles with how this election is going and how I think it will end up, except for the final margins being quite so lopsided. In the 2017 French Presidential election they had Le Pen, an ultra right wing populist candidate with little political experience running against a well qualifed moderate. Her campaign was super racist, relied on Russian propaganda, and claimed that the polls were all fake. She had a rabid base of support but was reviled and feared by pretty much everyone else. Macron, her opponent, was a moderate, fairly well liked and smart guy, all be it more run of the mill and less exciting than Le Pen (although that was probably for the best). He was backed by a broad coalition of liberals, moderates, indendents, and even long time conservatives who banded together to block Le Pan from coming close to winning. During the entire run up to election day (especially the run off election) people said the polls couldn't be trusted, that Le Pen could absolutely win, and that the election might be a lot closer than people were thinking. But then she lost by 33 points, which is what the polls predicted.

And that is why I submit to all of you that the 2017 French Presidential election is the closest parallel to the 2020 U.S. Presidential election than any past American election and that Trump and Biden most closely resemble Le Pen and Macron, not any past American presidential candidates. Thoughts?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_French_presidential_election

[roamer65]

1. 2022 is next French presidential election?

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Do not forget that the guys who wrote our Constitution were watching bugeyed at the events in France

and were directly involved in the 7 Years' War with France.

They were also from the British tradition of slowly (perhaps too slowly) expanding the rights of the general population.

This gave them a unique perspective and with some safety from an ocean between them, they developed attitudes that still influence us today.

[drray23]

3. Le Pen was not a candidate with little political experience.

She has been in politics for decades following in the footsteps of her father jean marie le pen. They have been a scourge in french politics for decades.
I agree with the rest of your assessment. All the other parties allied together to reject her soundly.