The Popular Right

The Popular Right (French: La Droite populaire, commonly known as La Droite pop) is a recognised movement within the National Rally (RN) since 2019, previously within the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and The Republicans (LR). It was founded in 2010 as the Collectif parlementaire de la Droite populaire, a caucus of UMP parliamentarians which included 26 members of the National Assembly. The Popular Right seeks to emphasise issues such as national identity, security and immigration. Its leader is Thierry Mariani, currently an MEP.

The Popular Right
La Droite populaire
LeaderThierry Mariani
FounderThierry Mariani, Lionnel Luca, Richard Mallié, Jean-Paul Garraud, Philippe Meunier, Jacques Myard
Founded14 July 2010
IdeologySouverainism
Conservatism
Euroscepticism
Political positionRight-wing
National affiliationUnion for a Popular Movement (2010–2015)
The Republicans (2015–2019)
National Rally (since 2019)
European Parliament groupIdentity and Democracy (2)
Colours  Grey
Website
roitepopulaire.fr

History and ideology

The movement was created as an informal parliamentary caucus within the then-governing UMP in June 2010 by Lionnel Luca, Richard Mallié, Jean-Paul Garraud and Thierry Mariani - all members of the UMP's right-wing.[1] It was later joined by other parliamentarians, most of them from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France, a region where the far-right National Front is very strong.

The movement's charter [2] focused on six themes: nation, patriotism, free enterprise, family policy, security, responsible management of public finances, and French prestige abroad. Emphasizing some of the most right-wing and law-and-order aspect of former President Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 platform, it focused much of its actions on immigration and security. It has strongly opposed foreigners' right to vote in local elections.[3]

It has often created controversy because of its radical positions on certain issues, for example when it asked for references to gender to be removed from school textbooks.[4] Some of its members have also indicated their support for local alliances with the far-right National Front, raising controversy within the UMP and on the left.[5]

The group was badly hurt by the 2012 legislative elections, after which its weight in the French National Assembly shrank from 63 to 26 deputies. 37 of its members lost reelection. As it restructured itself as a motion for the November 2012 congress, leaders such as Thierry Mariani worried about the rise of similar motions such as The Strong Right.[6]

Weight within the UMP

As a motion for the November 2012 congress, the Droite Populaire did badly, placing fifth with 10.87% of the motions vote,[7] barely enough to qualify as a recognized movement in the UMP.

Members

Official website, list of members

Deputies

Other members

References
  1. Droite populaire de l'UMP : les braillards de la droite dure nouvelobs.com, 29/07/2011
  2. La droite décomplexée s'organise à l'Assemblée Le Figaro, 27/07/2011
  3. Temps de Lecture 2 min. "La Droite populaire lance une pétition contre le droit de vote des étrangers". Lemonde.fr. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  4. le débat continue autour des manuels de SVT Ouest-France, 31 August 2011
  5. Jarrassé, Jim (October 20, 2010). "Alliance avec le FN : un député UMP brise le tabou". Le Figaro.fr.
  6. Temps de Lecture 3 min. "UMP : la Droite populaire ne veut pas perdre de parts de marché". Ump.blog.lemonde.fr. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  7. UMP : la Droite forte en tête du scrutin, Le Figaro, 20 November 2012
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