(CNN)Donald Trump's travails are apparently sending shivers through Europe's so-called populist right. This seems particularly true in France.
Marine Le Pen -- the leader of France's National Front party and darling of the French far right -- had hoped to ride President Trump's coattails to power -- and in the process, bring down the entire European project.
As France, Italy and the Netherlands gear up for critical elections this spring, many of Trump's more outrageous pronouncements -- not to mention actions -- are casting a pall over Europe's populism.
Snip--ing/ European populism to crumble?
By David A. Andelman
Updated 9:01 AM ET, Wed February 8, 2017
Marine Le Pen runs for French president.
Marine Le Pen runs for French president. 02:36
Story highlights
(CNN)Donald Trump's travails are apparently sending shivers through Europe's so-called populist right. This seems particularly true in France.
Marine Le Pen -- the leader of France's National Front party and darling of the French far right -- had hoped to ride President Trump's coattails to power -- and in the process, bring down the entire European project.
As France, Italy and the Netherlands gear up for critical elections this spring, many of Trump's more outrageous pronouncements -- not to mention actions -- are casting a pall over Europe's populism.
Trump's continuing embrace of Vladimir Putin, his support for a Brexit that even many Brits are now viewing with fear, and above all his de-facto Muslim ban all appear to be moving much of the European electorate closer to the center and driving these often-bickering nations closer to each other.
Marine Le Pen declares candidacy in French election, attacks globalization
Marine Le Pen declares candidacy in French election, attacks globalization
The first test comes in France barely 10 weeks from now in the first round of France's presidential election. Already, it holds the promise of a most contentious period. In an effort to smooth her own image and ease her way into the hearts of a broader electorate than her explosive father, far-right demagogue Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine has dropped her toxic last name from her campaign material -- at about the same time she released a 144-point program that's clearly designed to smooth some of her sharpest edges.
No longer does Le Pen want France to "exit the eurozone," but rather "restore the national currency," which many in France worry will do little to improve their economic plight. No longer does she seek to reinstate the death penalty but rather life imprisonment for "the worst crimes." She doesn't even want to leave the European Union but rather renegotiate France's terms of membership. No longer does Le Pen want France to "exit the eurozone," but rather "restore the national currency," which many in France worry will do little to improve their economic plight. No longer does she seek to reinstate the death penalty but rather life imprisonment for "the worst crimes." She doesn't even want to leave the European Union but rather renegotiate France's terms of membership.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/opinions/trump-european-populism-andelman/
The defeat of the far right populist movement has been slowly pummeled by trump for 100 days now. They are lucky to even scrape by with the 33% that they got. I was hoping they end up in the 20's. But a win is a win and this one wasn't too shabby.
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