Volume CXXXI, Number 23 April 26, 2002 f

Le Pen's win worsens negative view of France
JANE CULLINA

France, usually on the outskirt of the United States' attention, has been a prominent feature in the American media of late. First it was a sketch on last week's Saturday Night Live. Apparently, les américains cast unfavorable eyes upon the beret-wearing, baguette-eating society-the SNL sketch not only referred to the French's "foul-smelling" reputation, but repeatedly asserted their anti-Semitic nature.

Only a day later, the French were all over various types of American media again, and SNL scriptwriters had more concrete evidence of the anti-Semitism they had jokingly mentioned the night before. A multitude of front page articles in newspapers and news reports on television covered the first round of French presidential elections, which took place last Sunday morning.

Why all the coverage? Because Jean-Marie Le Pen, the extreme right-wing candidate, took second place in the first round of elections, earning him a spot in next week's runoff.

Now the French electorate is left to choose between a right-of-center thief (Jacques Chirac, the current president, who could land in jail if he isn't elected), and Le Pen. For those who haven't followed the race, a bit of background on him: Le Pen is an outwardly racist, anti-Europe immigrant-hater.

So, why would 17 percent of voters choose Le Pen? That's the question circulating most freely among the press, and the answers don't vary much. The French themselves seem reluctant to admit voting for Le Pen, but most say his support displayed their disenchantment with the country's central political parties (France, unlike the U.S., has over 14 parties participating in the legislative government, including one entitled Hunting, Fishing, Nature, and Traditions).

Le Pen's platform includes a solution of the immigration problem (he believes they are the cause of all crime in France), a proposal to extend the workday (currently at 35 hours per week), and bring back the franc (recently replaced by the euro). His ideas do have some appeal; to those French who see their traditional values being compromised by the Europeanization and Americanization of their country.

But despite his shocking victory over Socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin, Le Pen is expected to end up way behind Chirac in the final elections, which will take place on Sunday, May 5.

This was demonstrated by the large protests that crowded the streets of Paris and other French cities this week, with students chanting, "No!" and "I'm ashamed!" And, with only two exceptions, the other candidates are throwing their support behind Chriac.

The French, already viewed by many as racist, risk receiving even greater international scorn if Le Pen pulls any sort of weight in the second election. Then we'll really see some interesting SNL skits.