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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| It was Hollande's victory not Le Pen's | It was Hollande's victory not Le Pen's |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| What was it about the first-round French election results (Report, 24 April) that made the media turn a win by François Hollande into a triumph for Marine Le Pen? They virtually ignored her other socialist rival coming in at a respectable 11%. Until the 1980s the press ignored the extreme right, starving them of publicity; now they artificially inflate the public interest on issues such as immigration – and do not seem to have grasped that people are looking for hope, and actually appear to believe that new forms of economics will be the best bulwark against extremism. Hollande's message on jobs and investment got him the votes, and should have been an inspiration warmly welcomed by Ed Miliband (and the Guardian) instead of being received with what appeared to be a grudging silence. Virginia Smith London | What was it about the first-round French election results (Report, 24 April) that made the media turn a win by François Hollande into a triumph for Marine Le Pen? They virtually ignored her other socialist rival coming in at a respectable 11%. Until the 1980s the press ignored the extreme right, starving them of publicity; now they artificially inflate the public interest on issues such as immigration – and do not seem to have grasped that people are looking for hope, and actually appear to believe that new forms of economics will be the best bulwark against extremism. Hollande's message on jobs and investment got him the votes, and should have been an inspiration warmly welcomed by Ed Miliband (and the Guardian) instead of being received with what appeared to be a grudging silence. Virginia Smith London |
| • While it may not fit the narrative to draw as much attention to the 11% share gained by Mélenchon as to the 18% achieved by Le Pen, together they have sent a powerful message. From sharply contrasting value bases they have rejected Sarkozy's schmoozing of Merkel, and caught the widespread feeling of national impotence in the face of eurozone domination of economic policy and the impact on ordinary citizens. Les Bright Exeter, Devon | • While it may not fit the narrative to draw as much attention to the 11% share gained by Mélenchon as to the 18% achieved by Le Pen, together they have sent a powerful message. From sharply contrasting value bases they have rejected Sarkozy's schmoozing of Merkel, and caught the widespread feeling of national impotence in the face of eurozone domination of economic policy and the impact on ordinary citizens. Les Bright Exeter, Devon |
| • Dr Eoin O'Malley points out the leftwing attitudes of European far-right parties (Letters, 24 April) and says such parties require a more accurate description, offering the suggestion "populist nationalists". Why not National Socialists? Pete Betts Liverpool | • Dr Eoin O'Malley points out the leftwing attitudes of European far-right parties (Letters, 24 April) and says such parties require a more accurate description, offering the suggestion "populist nationalists". Why not National Socialists? Pete Betts Liverpool |
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