In France National Front Party Foments Anti-Muslim Sentiment

Now led by Marine Le Pen, daughter of founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, the National Front party has been gaining popularity in France, polling at levels comparable to that expressed for the more traditionally popular parties. As recounted in reports from the New York Times and NPR, Ms. Le Pen has redirected rhetorical hostility away from her father’s most familiar target, Jews, and now focuses on allegations that Muslims immigrants are unwilling to accept French values and threaten the French way of life.  This theme,joined with her opposition to the European Union, appears to be attracting support from workers in industrialized areas currently experiencing job shortages. 

JFB