Early projections indicate Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) has won most votes in the first round of the parliamentary election in France, beating the leftist NFP alliance and Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble.
I think it’s reasonable to call it centrist, despite also being right-wing (ie centre-right)
To me, centrism isn’t just about being somewhere in the middle between the left and right of the political environment, but also about having policies that make small adjustments to the current system, as opposed to fundamental, large scale change
having policies that make small adjustments to the current system
Well, that’s not really what happened the past few years. Civil rights and social protections have been degraded wayyy faster than by previous rightwing (not claiming to be centrist) governments. Structural change has happened several times, making big changes in some areas. Macron and their buddies don’t want to play it small, they want to make big changes.
Do you have some examples of the structural changes he’s made? My understanding (disclaimer: I’m not french, so don’t follow their politics as closely) was that one of the biggest frustrations both from the left and right is his refusal to make any real change
The biggest event I can think of from his presidency is the retirement change age, but it stands out more to me because of the backlash than the significance of the change itself
Then you are forever looking out the Overton window, and are beholden to those who move it. In this case, Macron has moved it, so you think it’s the center.
I think it’s reasonable to call it centrist, despite also being right-wing (ie centre-right)
To me, centrism isn’t just about being somewhere in the middle between the left and right of the political environment, but also about having policies that make small adjustments to the current system, as opposed to fundamental, large scale change
The word you’re looking for is “conservative”
Conservative implies right leaning, centrist implies opposed to large scale change
One can be a radical conservative, and one can be centre-left
The word I was looking for is “centrist”
Well, that’s not really what happened the past few years. Civil rights and social protections have been degraded wayyy faster than by previous rightwing (not claiming to be centrist) governments. Structural change has happened several times, making big changes in some areas. Macron and their buddies don’t want to play it small, they want to make big changes.
Do you have some examples of the structural changes he’s made? My understanding (disclaimer: I’m not french, so don’t follow their politics as closely) was that one of the biggest frustrations both from the left and right is his refusal to make any real change
The biggest event I can think of from his presidency is the retirement change age, but it stands out more to me because of the backlash than the significance of the change itself
Then you are forever looking out the Overton window, and are beholden to those who move it. In this case, Macron has moved it, so you think it’s the center.