France: National Rally Candidate Assaulted While Campaigning

Above: Protesters march against the electoral rise of the right-wing National Rally party on June 15, 2024 in Paris, France. Image copyright: Remon Haazen/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • A group of masked assailants wearing black reportedly assaulted right-wing politician Hervé Breuil of Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party. The assailants beat Breuil while he was campaigning in the central French town of Saint Etienne.

  • While Breuil and four other campaigners were handing out flyers, witnesses told local media the attackers insulted and threw rotten fruit at him and his group. Breuil was then hospitalized after being kicked.


The Spin

Right narrative

The far-left in France is acting violently to stop the rising popularity of the National Rally. Instead of defeating Breuil at the ballot box, their militant actions put him in the hospital. If RN is such a threat to democracy, why are its opponents the ones physically assaulting the democratic process?

Left narrative

All political violence should be condemned, but this news should not blind us to the dark future of France should the National Rally take power. In the wake of their EU parliamentary victory, RN supporters were seen violently attacking members of the LGBTQ community. If given a legislative majority, such attacks against all minorities will become dangerously commonplace.


Metaculus Prediction


Political split

LEFT

RIGHT