Republican Presidential Campaign Overshadows Gaullism, According to Historian Bryan Muller
Election Day Approaches for Les Républicains: On May 17th, the race for the presidency of Les Républicains party heats up. Two candidates with surprising similarities in ideology are squaring off: Bruno Retailleau, currently the Minister of the Interior, and Laurent Wauquiez, an MP from Haute-Loire. Both men have been promoting conservative right ideas with liberal and authoritarian undertones for several months.
Wauquiez vs. Retailleau: Despite their shared beliefs, the candidates strive to distinguish themselves from each other. The aim is to win over the party's traditional supporters. Bruno Retailleau presents himself as a "conservative liberal" with a religious undertone similar to François Fillon, while Laurent Wauquiez embraces a populist stance, aligning himself with the common people, albeit with his background in the French social and professional elite.
The Fading Glory of De Gaulle and Gaullism: For years, Les Républicains leaders have drawn upon General de Gaulle and Gaullism to legitimize themselves, especially during critical elections like the 2022 presidential election and party presidency election. However, since late 2024, references to de Gaulle have become increasingly rare. Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez still identify as Gaullists, yet they refrain from vocal and frequent proclamations of their Gaullism. The iconic figure of de Gaulle appears to be losing its luster within the French right.
Electoral Considerations and Questionable Gaullist Character: The dimmed shine of de Gaulle and Gaullism may be due to electoral considerations. There seems to be a certain voter fatigue after the over-emphasis on Gaullism in 2022, and the two candidates need to differentiate themselves. Furthermore, the political family that was once firmly Gaullist now faces questions about its Gaullist character.
A Forgotten Era of Influence: Gaullism, established by Charles de Gaulle as a political doctrine, was instrumental in the mid-20th century, emphasizing a strong executive power, national sovereignty, and independence from foreign influences during the Cold War. De Gaulle's leadership style combined military discipline with political maneuvering, which aided France's post-WWII recovery as a leading power. However, in the contemporary political landscape, traditional Gaullist influence on the French right has significantly decreased.
Reasons for the Decline in Influence:
- Fragmented Political Landscape: The legacy of Gaullism no longer acts as a unifying or dominant force within the contemporary French right. Several center-right parties that once aligned themselves with Gaullism have splintered, and new political movements have emerged that diverge from classical Gaullist values.
- Rise of the Far Right: The emergence of far-right movements such as the National Rally (RN) has reformed the right-wing political spectrum in France. These groups promote nationalist, anti-immigration, and populist platforms, contrasting with the Gaullist emphasis on national unity and institutional stability.
- Evolution of Political Culture: Modern French politics has progressed beyond the personality-driven, presidential-centric dynamics of de Gaulle's era. Current political debates revolve around immigration, globalization, and social issues, with Gaullist principles taking a backseat.
- Reevaluation of Colonial Legacy: De Gaulle’s policies on Africa and decolonization, once perceived as necessary and state-strengthening, are now viewed more critically due to France's reduced influence in Africa and ongoing discussions about colonial history.
Conclusion:
While Charles de Gaulle is still considered a symbol of French national strength, institutional independence, and political authority, the practical influence of Gaullism as a guiding philosophy within the present French right has largely diminished. New political trends and ideological shifts have usurped Gaullist dominance, providing more fragmented and diverse right-wing currents, notably the rise of the far right. As a result, the figure of General de Gaulle and Gaullism no longer wields the cohesive and central influence it once did within the French right.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, both Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez, despite their shared Gaullist identity, are steering clear of frequent proclamations of their Gaullism, a shift potentially influenced by the changing political landscape and the need to differentiate themselves.
- The decline in the influence of Gaullism on the French right is evident in the current electoral landscape, with the rise of the far right and the fragmentation of the political landscape, creating more diverse and less dominant right-wing ideologies, distancing themselves from the classical Gaullist values.
