A group of Lower Sixth Form French pupils currently studying the presidential election travelled to London to attend a Spectator magazine panel discussion, featuring distinguished writers, journalists and academics.
A packed lecture theatre in SW7, knowingly dubbed the 21st arrondissement of Paris by chairman Andrew Neil, was treated to a lively session on Marine le Pen and expectations for the second election round.
Discussion strayed into such areas as the likely impact of the two remaining candidates on the Brexit process, Islamophobia and the terrorist threat in France, voting trends and patterns and whether or not the rejection of the two established parties (socialist and 'Gaullist') signifies a France in a state of terminal decline.
It was clear from the beginning that few give Marine le Pen much chance of defying the odds a la Donald Trump, but support for Macron's platform was lukewarm at best. The evening concluded with audience questions, and the predominantly liberal audience was finally riled into action by a brave, contrarian soul who rose to deny that le Pen has any ideological link with fascism or Vichy, as was claimed by some panellists.
There was consensus that if or when Macron wins, the legislative elections in July could present him with a real problem, such is the factionalism in French politics and desire of the 'old' parties to thwart the upstart and reassert themselves.
The discussion was of very high quality and inspired a raft of perceptive questions from the pupils on the journey back to Oundle.
S Jessop