Sir, – Le Pen could prove mightier than the accord which has held Europe together for decades. She has put restoring the French people's monetary, legislative, territorial, and economic sovereignty at the head of her list of campaign promises (Lara Marlowe, "Marine Le Pen – Yes she can", Weekend Review, February 11th). And she could win the French presidential election.
This is her moment. Right-wing populism is coming back into fashion with a vengeance. Britain and America have already succumbed. Millions of people have been converted to the idea that what the world needs is more division, more borders, and more paranoid, heavily armed nations that are just out for themselves.
French people have the opportunity to strike a blow for liberty, equality, and fraternity by overwhelmingly rejecting her party, and reversing this toxic trend. – Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
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Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Where is the evidence for the “Yes she can” headline on Lara Marlowe’s piece?
Since the beginning of 2016, Marine Le Pen has never exceeded 31 per cent in French opinion polls, mostly her support has lain in the 24-28 range. In the six weeks of 2017 it has in fact tightened to a range of 22 to 27 per cent.
Emmanuel Macron now has a 2 to 3 per cent lead over François Fillon in the first round and polls predict him beating Ms Le Pen 65 per cent to 35 per cent in the second round. Only since “Penelopygate” has Ms Le Pen been shown to exceed 40 per cent in a run-off with Mr Fillon. If Mr Fillon cannot recover, Mr Macron will be her opponent. No contest. – Yours, etc,
GREG WALSH,
Taghmon,
Co Wexford.