Newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is in Paris in search of European momentum. But on the western side of the Rhine, political dynamics are also stalling. Much like in Germany, French citizens are increasingly concerned about rising crime and violence (37%). Inflation (31%) and uncontrolled immigration (26%) are also among the top issues on the public agenda in France.
There are other striking parallels between France and Germany. At the end of March, Marine Le Pen — parliamentary leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (formerly Front National) — was convicted for misusing European Union funds. She has been barred from holding political office or standing in any election for the next five years. This decision could prevent her from running in the 2027 presidential elections — a race in which she was previously considered a strong contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron.
Meanwhile, in Germany, the possibility of legally sidelining political opponents is also under debate. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) recently classified the AfD as a confirmed far-right extremist party, reigniting discussions around a potential party ban. Merz would do well to examine how France is navigating similar legal and political tensions. Following her conviction, Le Pen was quick to portray herself as the innocent target of politically motivated justice — a narrative that mirrors the AfD’s reaction to the BfV’s ruling.
Yet banning right-wing populist parties — even when legally justified — is unlikely to turn their supporters into champions of democracy. Instead, we might consider the point raised by SPD politician Katarina Barley on the talk show Markus Lanz, where she described the rise of populism as part of a broader international socio-political trend.
About the author: Dr. Robert Grimm is a sociologist and Head of Political and Social Research at Ipsos Germany.