By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a recent development, French police raided the headquarters of the National Rally (RN), seizing documents as part of an investigation into alleged illegal campaign financing. The raid comes shortly after EU financial prosecutors launched a separate probe into the alleged misuse of funds by the former far-right Identity & Democracy (ID) group, which included the RN. This investigation will examine potential fraud, illegal loans, and forged documents related to campaigns from 2020 to 2024. Simultaneously, Marine Le Pen, a key figure in the party, is facing legal challenges, including a conviction for embezzling EU funds, further complicating the party’s political landscape.
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Police raid headquarters of French far-right National Rally party – that headline definitely grabbed my attention, and honestly, it’s hard not to be a bit cynical about it. I mean, potentially cooking the books with EU funds? It’s not exactly a shocker, but still, it’s pretty infuriating. We’re talking about taxpayer money here, and when you see things like this, you can’t help but wonder who’s really benefiting. Of course, ideally, if these investigations pan out, the people benefit, especially if it leads to accountability. I can only imagine Marine Le Pen’s reaction if her plans backfire in a big way. Wish I could have been there to see her face.
It’s worth noting that the rise of far-right extremism is undoubtedly concerning right now. We’re seeing this trend globally, from the US to Israel, from Poland to extremist regimes in places like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. The parallels between leaders like Marine Le Pen and figures like Donald Trump are striking, right down to the blonde hair and the perceived lack of emotional expression. In the US, with the current far-right leaning governments, you wonder if they’re sloppy enough to leave incriminating evidence out in the open. Then again, given the recent events in the US, it might not even matter in the long run. No one on the far right in any nation should feel safe. This could definitely backfire again. It is also relevant that Marine Le Pen can’t be re-elected for five years due to a prior conviction in a related financial case, although she has appealed the sentence.
And this isn’t just a French problem; it’s a global phenomenon. The focus on immigration as the root of all problems is a recurring theme in these movements. It’s a tactic that’s been used since the 1940s, and it’s certainly present in leaders like Bukele, Milei, and even Maduro. It’s a clear and present danger because the potential for widespread harm is significantly higher than it has been in the past.
The comparison to the Nazis is relevant, of course. Their actions were horrific. However, today, we’re dealing with a far-right that has embedded itself within the established structures of power. The potential for damage is huge. Consider the fact that we now have a far-right authoritarian with command of a significantly larger and more advanced military than the Nazis had before World War II. The potential for harm is far greater now.
We have to consider that the risk isn’t just from direct conflicts. Non-direct deaths are also a concerning aspect of the current situation – the weaponization of things like Covid, the erosion of healthcare in places like the US and environmental policies that seem to only serve specific interests. Climate change is another huge threat that could result in widespread loss of life in the future, largely because of the actions (or inaction) of these same right-wing administrations.
I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “At least they’re better than the US.” But that bar keeps getting lower, and we’re at risk of falling along with it. Smugness won’t save us from this. It’s a dark time with real potential to be the absolute worst. We’re at the cusp of something, and if the world slips into multiple fronts of massive wars, it could be even worse than World War II. The danger today stems from the potential for harm, the instability of many of the agitators, and the existence of nuclear weapons. There’s a non-zero chance that someone like Putin or Trump could make a disastrous decision. This is the most dangerous point in human history, simply because of the potential for harm and how close we are to it.