Back to Utopia?

France's presidential election appears to herald European voters' turn away from charismatic leaders in favor of bland normalcy. But almost one-third of French voters supported extremist parties in the first round, and normalcy is the last thing that they want.

PARIS – France no longer claims center stage in world history, but it remains influential beyond its national borders. From the eighteenth century on – including Charles de Gaulle’s epic role in World War II, decolonization in Africa, and the May 1968 student revolt – France has been a frequent bellwether of deep societal changes across Europe. Will its recent presidential election continue that tradition?

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