French far-right leader Marine Le Pen raises a storm over her plan to march against antisemitism

Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader in France, has announced her intention to participate in an antisemitism protest in France. This move has generated significant controversy due to the historical association of her party, National Rally, with antisemitism, which stems from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen’s actions and statements.

Yes, Marine Le Pen has worked to rebrand and distance her party from its antisemitic past. She expelled her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, from the party and changed its name from National Front to National Rally. However, comments made by the current party president, Jordan Bardella, have raised questions about the party’s complete departure from its past.

The antisemitism protest in France is expected to be attended by various political figures, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, leaders of political parties, and concerned citizens. Some, like Marine Le Pen, see this as an opportunity to address the issue of rising antisemitism in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The issue of antisemitism in France has become a matter of significant concern, with a sharp increase in antisemitic acts reported since the start of Israel’s conflict with Hamas. As of the latest count, there have been 1,159 antisemitic acts since October 7, 2023, nearly three times more than the total acts against French Jews in the entire year of 2022.

The Jewish umbrella group known as CRIF has expressed that Marine Le Pen is not welcome at the protest. House Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, one of the organizers, stated that no political parties had been invited, but she also made it clear that she wouldn’t march “next to” Le Pen. The presence of other hard-right politician Eric Zemmour, who holds even more right-wing views, has garnered less attention.

Despite National Rally’s increased political presence with 88 lawmakers in the lower house, there is still significant distrust surrounding the party. Many, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, believe that the party has a “dangerous ideology” and argue that changing the party’s name does not erase its historical roots, including associations with collaborationist figures from World War II.

Serge Klarsfeld, a renowned Nazi hunter and advocate for Holocaust remembrance, surprisingly views the presence of Marine Le Pen and her party at the antisemitism protest as “completely positive.” He sees their abandonment of antisemitism and march toward republican values as a positive development.

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the issue of far-right politics, without naming specific individuals, and warned against confusing the rejection of Muslims with support for Jews. His comments reflect the broader debate surrounding the rise of far-right movements in France and their impact on various communities.