Marine Le Pen’s biggest political obstacle is her name

I had an illuminating argument with a Socialist friend at the weekend. It began when I expressed my surprise that greater Paris has just passed a law compelling construction workers to speak only French. The ‘Moliere clause’ in the ‘Small Business Act’ requires all firms engaged in publicly-funded building projects to talk French. The intention is to stop foreign workers, particularly those from eastern Europe, taking the jobs of French builders and undercutting local companies.

I suggested to my friend that the bill, which is already in force in Normandy, Hauts-de-France and Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. is discriminatory. Not at all, retorted my friend, it’s common sense.

I see. In which case, I ventured, so are Marine Le Pen’s ‘French first’ election pledges to tax imports as well as the employment contracts of foreigners, and limit certain rights – such as free education – to French citizens only.

That set the chat among the pigeons. Marine Le Pen is a racist, hissed my friend.