French election: Comparing Le Pen and Geert Wilders would be mistake

Liberals all around the world are relieved after Geert Wilders’ PVV came in second place in this week’s Dutch election, especially after a disastrous 2016, when they suffered three major defeats worldwide; Brexit referendum, Trump election, and Italian referendum. After the Dutch election, many are hopeful that the populist wave may not be as strong in Europe as many have feared. However, comparing Geert Wilder with French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen would be a big mistake. So far, most of the polls predicted that Le Pen would lose the French Presidency to Emmanuel Macron in the second round and, in this article, we at FxWirePro are not prophesizing otherwise. All we want to say is that the Dutch election outcome should not lead to complacency and the reasons are simple and clear,

• If Madame Le Pen’s agendas are considered to be right-wing, then Mr. Wilders’ platform is definitely of an extreme right. The policies of Mr. Wilders can be better compared with Marine Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was the founder of Front National and was the leader of the party until ousted by his daughter Marine Le Pen.
• Since the ousting of his father, Madame Le Pen has brought the party more towards, what can be called as moderate right.
• Her major policy is to return to sovereignty, which is very appealing to the French people according to history. More so than that of the Dutch. After 1008 Great Recession and 2011 European debt crisis, many French industrial towns and cities have died and till this date unemployment remains very high and a major issue.
• While Geert Wilders’ campaign could be called an anti-Islamic, Madame Le Pen’s campaign is more anti-elite and anti-EU. More French sympathize with these two issues compared to the Dutch.

So, we would advise our readers to not let off their guards as the possibility of a Le Pen Presidency can’t still be ruled out.