Ms Le Pen and Mr Farage’s relationship dates back to when both were members of the European Parliament, and has had its ups and downs.
The two Eurosceptics hold tough views on immigration, and both have denied accusations that they are soft on Vladimir Putin.
However, Ms Le Pen favours a more Left-wing and protectionist economic policy than Mr Farage. Her policies are grounded in cutting taxes, raising spending and borrowing heavily. In recent days, the party has rowed back on some of its more expensive plans in a bid to reassure markets.
People sadly misunderstand when I say “fascist economics”. Because it wasn’t a political strategythat thought deeply about the Laffer Corve or marginal elasticities and such. But there was a general economic idea there – Tutto nello Stato, obvs. But also protectionism, import substitution and so on. They thought foreign trade – esepocially imports – was a bad thing really.
Not really sure whether that’s even fascist or just the sort of foolishness that associates with the sort of fools who are fascists. But it is still, just about, possible to say “fascist economics” without thereby implying that there’re going to be spiffy uniforms for all.
Anbd that fascist economics is generally left wing too. Or, is commonly found in other left wingers, not just fascists. Colin Hines and his “progressive protectionism” for example.
One of Mussolini’s great achievements was to hide from the world that Italy was effectively bankrupt throughout the 1930s.
It was the false belief that Italy had survived the Great Depression intact that prompted the copycat regimes in Austria, Hungary , Spai, Portugal and Romania and of course Mosley.
They pulled a similar trick to be allowed to adopt the Euro.
It’ll be interesting to see what Marine’s policies are if she gets into power. She’s pragmatic. Which is how she’s dragged her father’s party into a position it’s electable. My suspicion is that a lot of RN’s economic policies will quietly fade away, being replaced by those that are more viable. One as to look at her core aims & regard other stuff as what she’s using to sell RN to the electorate. I doubt she wants to take the country down the economic path Melanchon does. But France is a country that’s hooked on socialism.
There’s a general cultural difference towards internationalisation, and I think it comes from how much the average French person doesn’t have it every day. Like they drink wine produced in the country, and most of the food is, too. They go on holiday to France. They watch a lot more French movies than we do British ones, because no-one else is making French language movies (where we have Hollywood). I also think that British Leyland was so shit compared to Renault that we all own a lot more foreign cars.
I think a lot of voters view things at that sort of level. Imports make us richer is true, but I think a lot of voters don’t put in the thought to get to that. If you’re buying lots of French stuff, you see that as normal, and why buy foreign stuff.
Talking of fascist economics, there’s a good piece in Bloomberg about how the incoming Labour Party are biased towards public-sector producers, rather than consumers; and how their policies should have been subjected to far greater scrutiny during the election campaign.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-07-01/uk-election-labour-party-shouldn-t-be-getting-a-free-ride
They thought foreign trade – esepocially imports – was a bad thing really.
Is that actually true? Surely the RM was pitched intentionally high so the Fatherland benefited from the balance of trade with the occupied nations?