Populism without democracy? Has the dust settled in France?
Macron defeated Le Pen again, though he had about 8 % less of the vote, those voters switched to her. At the same time the centre-left Freedom Movement triumphed in Slovenia.
Two defeats for right-wing populism, for nationalism. Two victories for the EU and Social Liberalism. It’s an interesting change of pace after the recent crushing victory of Orbán in Hungary recently.
Though what happened in Slovenia is actually more complicated. The right-wing populist Slovenian Democratic Party actually gained 2 seats and did rather well. It is just that Freedom Movement did a lot better and has easily become the largest party and they’re the reverse of the SDP. They’re a brand new Social Liberal and Green party.