With ten million voters in the first round of the legislative elections on June 30, the Rassemblement National (RN) continues its conquest of institutions. However, it did not obtain a majority in the National Assembly, facing the union of left-wing parties and the republican barrier. Although the party has firmly established itself in French politics, the results of the second round, which were largely unexpected, demonstrate a persistent resistance to its normalization. In fact, society is deeply divided: a portion of the electorate rejects the far-right party, deeming it racist; while another part has gradually normalized it and harbors a strong distrust of the dominant political class.
In the past, the Front National (FN) [renamed RN in 2018] achieved poor scores in elections with high rates of abstention. This is no longer the case today, as its electorate has expanded to include older and wealthier individuals. However, the party remains strong among other social groups, particularly among non-racialized working-class households from peri-urban areas. Facing precarization, individualization of their professional paths, and deteriorating public services, they seek recognition and valorization.
The appeal of the RN among these populations is not new and can be traced back to dynamics initiated in the 1980s. Since that time, housing policies have transformed residential spaces for lower and middle-income categories. Individual property ownership was encouraged for those who could afford it, while social housing was devalued. In parallel, certain areas far from regional metropolises faced deindustrialization and the decline of public services, while others experienced the rise of logistics platforms providing local jobs. This led to the influx of new households to peri-urban areas, against a backdrop of the disqualification of suburbs and rising real estate prices in major cities.
Access to these residential spaces is highly unequal, with many local officials in peri-urban areas refusing to build social housing or only allocating them to households already residing in the community. Both officials and residents aim to influence the profiles of new arrivals to preserve the image and respectability of the territory. They play a crucial role for those looking to build or buy a house, as they control information on properties and land for sale.
Overall, the analysis of the RN’s rise reveals complex socio-political dynamics rooted in shifts in housing policies, economic changes, and societal perceptions in France. The party’s ability to attract diverse segments of the population, despite its controversial positions and policies, underscores the ongoing struggle for recognition, representation, and empowerment among different social groups in French society. As the political landscape continues to evolve, understanding these underlying factors will be crucial for shaping future policies and addressing the concerns of various communities.
