France 2027: What happens if the far right wins?

France is heading towards a presidential election that could reshape the country and Europe. The Rassemblement National, once the political fringe of French life, is now a serious contender for power, with Marine Le Pen leading the early polls. The old political order is fragmented, while the traditional strategy of keeping the far right out of power is looking increasingly fragile.

But how did the party founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen become a government in waiting? Why has Marine Le Pen succeeded in making the far right electorally acceptable to millions of French voters? And what will actually happen if the RN won the presidency?

Drawing on decades of reporting from France and his interviews with both Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, Victor Mallet will explore the forces behind the RN’s rise and what a Le Pen presidency could mean for French democracy, immigration, the economy and France’s role in Europe. 

At a moment when the European right is shifting rapidly, the conversation will also examine the relationship between Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, the battle for public opinion and the increasingly powerful media ecosystem surrounding the French right.