An examination of The Front National’s Eurosceptic discourse as a means of (teleological) repolitisation in the European Union (2012-2019)

This study investigates whether we can use the political discourse of the French Front National as a means against the (teleological) depolitisation of the European Union. We also ask ourselves whether it is desirable to use such a discourse, even if it is possible. To conduct this research, we base ourselves on an internal analysis of the Front National's political discourse from 2012 to 2019. We use party manifestos, speeches by party members, and existing literature on the subject. This study showed that the political discourse of the Front National offers an alternative to the existing framework of the European Union, as well as to numerous policy areas within the Union. However, we do notice a turning point in the party's discourse. Whereas until 2017 the party still fought for a Frexit and an exit from the eurozone, this political discourse towards the European Union is more moderate from April 2017. In the run-up to the European elections in 2019, we notice a new approach by the party: they want to reform the European Union from within into a European Alliance of Nations. Our research shows that the political discourse of the Front National can serve as a means against the depolitisation of the European Union, because it offers an alternative to existing constructions and patterns of thought within the Union. However, our research has also shown that many of the Front National's alternatives are not feasible in reality. In our research we concluded that although we could theoretically use the political discourse of the Front National as a means of repolitisation, this was not desirable. Using an extremist discourse that excludes some citizens and dissidents from society was the decisive factor in deciding this.