European ‘right turn’

French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen declared Saturday that 2017 will be the “year of the awakening of the people of continental Europe” as she joined fellow nationalist leaders at a conference in Germany.

Le Pen told several hundred supporters in Koblenz that Britain’s vote last year to leave the European Union would set in motion a “domino effect.”

Le Pen said President Trump’s inauguration speech included “accents in common” with the message on reclaiming national sovereignty proclaimed by the far-right leaders.

“2016 was the year the Anglo-Saxon world woke up. I am sure 2017 will be the year the people of continental Europe wake up,” she said to loud applause.

Of Trump, she added: “His position on Europe is clear: He does not support a system of oppression of peoples.”

In a joint interview with The Times of London and the German newspaper Bild published Monday, Trump said the EU had become “a vehicle for Germany” and predicted that more EU member states would leave.