An interview with Utopia 56 on the new French government and the ongoing influence of the far right
During the French parliamentary elections in June and July 2024, we interviewed Utopia 56 about the consequences of the shift to the right for exiles in northern France, but also for solidarity and aid work (see here). At the time, the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) appeared to be on the verge of taking power, but the ad hoc left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire managed an unexpected victory in the second round of elections. In the meantime, President Emanuel Macron has installed a conservative government. In light of these developments, we once again asked for an assessment. Just like then, we spoke to Célestin Pichaud from Utopia 56 in Grande-Synthe.
„We fear the worst for the days and weeks to come“: You said this at the beginning of July, after the first round of elections for the National Assembly. The feared victory of the extreme right did not materialize, but the new conservative government is heavily dependent on the goodwill of the RN. What does that matter?
The victory of the RN did not manifest directly, but in my view, its influence on the new conservative government is undeniable. By appointing Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, Emanuel Macron clearly signaled his willingness to RN’s influence shape government decisions. A striking example is Bruno Retailleau’s stance, expressed in a tweet on October 3, where he praised the effectiveness of his repressive policies in northern France, while downplaying deaths as mere „unfortunate consequences“. More worryingly, the same Interior Minister is now questioning the very concept of the rule of law. These positions, to me, show that the ideas of the RN are already shaping national policy. But this isn’t new – recent years have been marked by political winds that have opened the door to the far right.
Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has a very right-wing agenda in migration politics. To what extent does this affect exiles in northern France, but also solidarity and aid work?
I believe Bruno Retailleau’s position will have a tangible and dramatic impact in northern France. His October 3 tweet is telling: for him, deaths at the border are a „price to pay“ for a repressive policy, openly admitting that violence is an accepted consequence of this approach. This suggests that the policy in the North is deliberately deadly and there is a clear intent to continue on this path.
Moreover, the 2025 budget forecasts are equally concerning, with an additional 600 million euros allocated to the Ministry of the Interior, along with the announcement of a new immigration law in early 2025.
On the first point, it is clear that as repressive measures increase, so does the number of deaths. This is not an opinion, but a fact.
The second point highlights the government’s shift towards far-right policies. Bruno Retailleau has already reiterated his commitment to toughening the rules for people under deportation orders, particulary by extending their detention beyond the current 90 days. This hardening of immigration policies is not limited to France: on October 12, similar discussions took place in the European Parliament, with countries like France and Germany calling for faster deportations and even discussing the creation of „return hubs“ in third countries. Bruno Retailleau welcomes this European „convergence“ and advocates for revising the 2008 European return directive in the coming months. The shadow of the far right – if it can even still be called a shadow, given how it has materialized in current policies – looms not only over France but much of Europe as well.
In July, several RN candidates from northern France won seats in the National Assembly. How do these politicians position themselves on the issue of exiles, and are they able to exert any real influence?
The position of these „politicians“, particulary those of the RN, are often marked by lies and statements that I consider incitements to hatred, which are dangerous to people. Far-right rhetoric is widely spread by reactionary media and television channels. For instance, an RN representative in Calais – whose name I prefer not to mention – hosted a member of „Frontières“ (formerly „Livre Noir“) to discuss the situation in Calais. Shortly afterward, this individual gave a hateful speech on C-News, stigmatizing exiled individuals and accusing aid organizations of being complicit in illegal crossings. [Editor’s note: Frontières / Livre Noir is a medium of the extreme right. C-News is a television channel at the intersection of conservative and far-right positions.]
But beyond these local political figures, it is also members of the government who align with far-right movements. For example, Patrick Hetzel, the new Minister of Higher Education and Research, participated in an event organized by the UNI student union on October 12, known for its ties to the far right.
In summary, far-right politicians in northern France share the same hate-filled rhetoric as their national counterparts, and I increasingly observe non-far-right governments adopting RN rhetoric and policies.
Has the social climate also changed, and how strong is the presence of the extreme right now?
The social climate has not changed much but has become increasingly hostile towards people. Unfortunately, the policies implemented in recent years have given rise to far-right ideas, which are now more boldly asserted. Public services have been neglected by these governments, and this is reflected in the 2025 budget, which plans to cut 4,000 teaching positions in public schools. The rule of law and the social state have never been more threatened than they are now. The impoverishment of social policies has direct and severe consequences for the most vulnerable, but we must not forget that the entire working class, in all countries, will one day suffer from these far-right positions.
After the EU elections in June, when it looked like the RN might take over power in France, there was a series of far-right provocations and acts of violence, both in the Calais and Dunkirk region. Has the situation „calmed down“?
No, the situation hasn’t really calmed down. A recent example occured on September 22, 2024, which exiled individuals reported to us. A fishing boat repeatedly rammed a small vessel in the Aa canal while the police watched from the banks. [Editor’s note: The Aa canal is a waterway near Dunkirk, used by migrants to reach the sea.] After a conversation between the fisherman and the authorities, the fisherman continued to attack the boat. The exiled individuals had to swim to shore after their vessel was damaged, and the police provided no assistance.
This shows that ordinary citizens, like this fisherman, can be drawn into repression by this far-right policy. We fear that this logic will extend on other groups, such as hunters, who recently met with the prefect of Pas-de-Calais to discuss issues related to migrants. The prefect even mentioned creating a „hunting liaison officer“ to facilitate collaboration between hunters and law enforcement, which is extremely concerning.
Is more known about the violence in June/July, for exemple the contamination of drinking water in Loon-Plage?
No, I dorn’t have more information at the moment, but it’s clear that these acts of violence are enabled by a policy increasingly influenced by the far right. This policy thrives on violence and fear. I fear an escalation of violence from law enforcement, which already uses weapons of war (tear gas launchers, rubber bullet guns, stun granades) that have direct and indirect consequences for people’s safety. I also fear an escalation of violence from citizens, who, driven by the violence of this political system, may repeat these patterns of violence under the influence of reactionary media.
It has now became clear that 2024 is the deadliest year in the history of cross Channel migration. And there is no evidence to suggest that the situation will change. How is this being discussed in the current political climate? Is the death of well over 50 people since January even an issue that concerns the French public?
No, well, I don’t think so. While some media outlets do cover tragedies at sea when they happen, it’s often just a reaction to events. It is crucial to speak more deeply about the situation in northern France to deconstruct far-right narratives and provide a clear view of what’s happening on the ground.
It’s essential to help French citizens understand that what’s happening in the North is connected to various crises, including the climate crisis and the failure of public services. All of this is a consequence of a capitalist system that has become imperialist, exploiting states and imposing oppressive policies.