France is on the precipice of a far-right landslide

The French presidential race has begun. For the first time since 2017, Emmanuel Macron won’t be a part of it. And for the first time in her career, Marine Le Pen is the clear frontrunner, even after her conviction in a corruption scandal almost prevented her from running for public office. Prior to the final ruling, her second-in-command, Jordan Bardella, had tried to force his way in as the strongest National Rally presidential candidate, believing that Le Pen’s judicial vulnerability might translate an into electoral one - a costly ambition for which he is now paying, after Le Pen fired his closest associates inside the party.