In France protests, far-right ferrets out space for political gains and xenophobia

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL (AA) – The rise of the far-right in a European country may no longer be much of a surprise, as support for this side of the political spectrum has grown consistently across the continent for over a decade now.

France – a historically left-leaning nation – has been no different, and its far-right forces are fully exploiting the turmoil over last Tuesday’s fatal police shooting of a teenager of North African descent.

Fire and fury have engulfed the streets as France has plunged into chaos since Nahel M. was shot dead by police officers on June 27 in the working-class Paris suburb of Nanterre.

An outpouring of rage began from the “banlieues,” neighborhoods on the outskirts of major French towns and cities with large populations of minority communities, many from former French colonies.

In these areas, grievances over state neglect run deep, as does a distrust of a police force viewed by many as systemically racist and excessively violent.

The unrest has spread far and wide, from Paris to the Mediterranean city of Marseille, Lille in the north and several other areas, marked by riots, ransacking and pitched battles.

Police initially claimed Nahel was a threat and tried to run them over. Videos of the incident proved otherwise and the officer who pulled the trigger now faces voluntary homicide charges.

While the UN has advised France “to seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement,” police unions poured fuel on the fire with a statement that labeled protesters as “savage hordes” and “vermin.”

In an interview with British broadcaster Sky News about the protests and ensuing violence, Eric Vergne, a senior cop in another Paris suburb, claimed the “people standing in front of us are there to kill us.”

In all the chaos, the streets are not the only battleground in France nowadays.

The political sphere is just as fiery, with the French far-right eagerly seizing its chance to double down on its racist and xenophobic views, particularly regarding migrants and people of color who have been French nationals for generations.

Social media is awash with posts painting the protesters as violent gangs, rejecting any notion of credibility in their views about how they have suffered due to repressive policing and state neglect.

Many of the posts use similar language and far-right figures are also trumpeting claims about demographic changes in France, pointing to the likelihood of a concerted online campaign.

- Political battlefield

Support for French police is another common theme among supporters and leaders of the far-right.

Jordan Bardella, the 27-year-old who replaced Marine Le Pen as the head of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party last year, has been ever more adamant in this regard.

“Those who attack the police and the gendarmerie forces are not ‘angels’ or victims, but criminals, who must be heavily punished,” Bardella said in an open letter to French law enforcement agencies.

“What is unjustifiable and inexcusable – in our eyes – is the savagery that you suffer and the feeling of impunity that feeds its originators,” he added, a reference to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments that described Nahel’s killing as “unjustifiable and inexcusable.”

Another factor being exploited by the far-right is left-wing parties’ perceived silence over the protests.

Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party, blasted Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of the most prominent leftist figures in France and someone who Bardella previously labelled a “public danger,” for his refusal to call for calm amid the ongoing violence.

“I totally disassociate myself from the words of Jean-Luc Melenchon and some of his deputies who refused to call for calm and who legitimized this violence,” said Roussel, comments indicative of the divisions among leftist parties as the far-right continues to thrive in France.

Polls show the French public currently holds a more favorable view of the far-right compared to previous years, as Le Pen prepares for another presidential run in 2027 by positioning herself as a more mainstream and responsible figure with some carefully crafted speeches.

In a survey published on June 30, at least 39% of respondents approved Le Pen’s response to the unrest, with the right-leaning Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and President Macron trailing behind at around 33%.

- Controversial crowdfunding campaign

As thousands mourn for Nahel and seek justice for his murder, far-right media personality Jean Messiha launched an appeal on GoFundMe for the police officer who killed the teenager.

The collection has raised over €1 million ($1.1 million), much more than a fund set up for Nahel’s mother, sparking outrage and calls for it to be taken down.

“This evening the leftist-collaborators are fainting,” Messiha, a former adviser to Le Pen, said in a tweet.

The campaign has been blasted by many as an insult to Nahel and his family, but the far-right remains firm on following through with the collection.

As political and physical battles rage on in France, the country looks on with increasing alarm at the rising divisions and the continued surge of the far-right.

As the 2023 French Senate elections draw nearer, societal dynamics and rekindled grievances over racism, police brutality, and racial profiling are expected to play a huge part in shaping the outcome.