By Carlton Joseph

The last two weeks saw French President Emmanuel Macron taking a huge gamble in dissolving parliament and calling for parliamentary elections, after his centrists were beaten in European elections on June 9; that decision resulted in Marine Le Pen’s pro-Russian National Rally party, winning the first round of parliamentary elections. The far-right parties’ rise in France and Europe seemed to have scared British voters, because they gave the center-left Labour Party a landslide victory after 19 years, ending the Conservatives 14 years of tumultuous rule.  The Conservative Party suffered its worst ever defeat, losing more than 250 seats; many of the biggest names in Conservative politics lost their seat, including former prime minister Liz Truss, pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg, and former leadership contender Penny Mordaunt.

Interestingly, the British elections seem to have made the French electorate realize that they were going down the wrong rabbit hole, so on Sunday, French voters came out in huge numbers and voted for the far-left and center New Popular Front; giving them 181 seats;  Emmanuel Macron’s “Together coalition” came in second with 160 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s pro-Russian National Rally party third place with 143 seats.  These results should be instructive for politicians United States (US) and especially in Canada, because the far-right and center-right have gained significant ground in both countries.

In the past, the Canadian Conservative Party opposed US imperialism and the Liberal Party encouraged economic integration and cooperation between the two countries. However, Canada’s PM Pierre Trudeau, defied the US embargo against Cuba and instead strengthened ties between Canada and Cuba declaring: “Long live Cuba and the Cuban people, long live Commander Fidel Castro.” This did not sit well with the US, so months before the 1984 Canadian election, US president Ronald Reagan invited candidate Brian Mulroney to the White House and held a joint press conference, despite the Liberals still being the party in power.  The Conservative Party won the 1984 election and PM Brian Mulroney embraced the far-right policies of the US conservatives and grew closer in ideology of the right in the US.

More recently, far-right groups in the US and Canada have found common ideological ground that helps empower right-wing leaders and supporters in both countries as far-right activists and organizations have strengthened cross-border ties.  An example of their ideological convergence was on display in 2022 when a trucker convoy took over downtown Ottawa to protest the vaccine mandate which affected truck drivers crossing the Canadian-US border.  This protest strengthened financial ties between far-right conservatives in both countries, and importantly, this influx of money is empowering the far-right conservative in Canada and the power of the US far-right conservatives on Canada’s politics.

As the Canadian Conservative Party and U.S. Republican Parties grow closer together, Trump’s potential presidency and recent decisions of the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) become extremely relevant.  Canadians should recall that Trump did not treat Canadians as a friendly neighbour.  In fact, a report from Policy Horizons Canada titled “Disruptions on the Horizon,” suggest that “U.S. ideological divisions, democratic erosion, and domestic unrest escalate, plunging the country into civil war,” and that Canada should be prepared for it. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent comment on Trump’s presidency was, “It wasn’t easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won’t be easy either.” 

Trump proposes to impose a 10% tariff on all imports, his insistence that allies like Canada spend billions more on defense; and his vow to secure U.S. borders and deport illegal immigrants will negatively impact Canada’s political and economic future.  In fact, the US Supreme Court ruling which gives immunity for ‘official acts’ that are done by the any US President, could embolden Trump to meddle in Canadian politics especially in relation to abortion and gun control. 

Unfortunately, the US Democratic Party is running scared because of the “poor” performance of President Biden in his “debate” with Trump.  Only in Trump’s America a debate is won when the winner lied all night and the moderators and Biden failed to challenge the lies. In this new America lies and misinformation are regarded as truths, ignorance is rewarded, and members of your party, seeking only their own interest are ready to abandon their leader.  These gutless politicians knew Biden was old, and took credit for the policy decisions he made, now they claim he is too old to run against another old dysfunction man.  Instead of analyzing the French and British elections results, and understanding that the ideology of the majority of people in the world are left-center, these American politicians continue to move right of center, destroying the US economy and peoples’ lives in the process. 

There is an old saying: when fire does not actually burn your skin, you won’t feel the pain, because politicians don’t get burnt and pain, they will say whatever just to get votes.  Voters globally, especially in small towns and rural areas, are frustrated with low incomes and view the political leadership as elitist and unconcerned with workers’ day-to-day struggles.  Conservative politicians have connected with those voters, often by blaming immigration, inflation, and any other problem on the Liberals, and have built up broad and deep support over the past decade.  Liberals in the US and Canada need to move left of center and be concerned with workers struggle if they desire to remain in power.

(Trinidad-born Carlton Joseph who lives in Washington D.C., is a close observer of political developments in the United States.)

The perspectives and viewpoints articulated by the columnist unequivocally do not represent or endorse the official stance or opinions of the publication.