French horrors

Just how much the act of voting matters is rammed home by the election across the Channel. It is far from impossible that the first round of voting in France on Sunday will deliver a run-off between a fascist and a hard core Stalinist. At the very least, it does seem more than likely that Marine Le Pen will end up in that contest — and thus tangibly close to the Elysee. That thought is frightening. Despite the makeover, Ms Le Pen is leader of an authentically fascist party and her recent remarks about “France” not being responsible for the roundup of Jews at the Vel d’Hiv in 1942 remind us that she is her father’s daughter. Democracy is precious, and can never rest on its laurels.