Hi everyone and welcome to this latest instalment of our Brexit and Beyond podcast from the UK in a changing Europe.

I'm Arna Mennon, Director of UK and a Change Europe. I'm delighted to be joined today,

once again, you might say, by not one, but two guests. Firstly, we have Professor Helen Drake,

who is Professor of French and European Studies and Director of the Institute for Diplomacy

and International Government at Loughborough University, London. Yes, you did hear that, right, go to the website if you don't believe me.

And secondly, we have with us our very own, Joel Roland, who is our expert on all things French.

Actually, all things French, all things French, all things, all things, actually, he's our

experts on all things.

So this is going to be good.

And we're here to talk about France or French elections and what they might mean.

So firstly, welcome both of you.

Hello.

Hi, Anand.

Okay, Jo, you'll have to sound a bit happier by the end of this podcast.

Hi, Anand.

Is this a watershed moment for the far right in France?

Is the first obvious question because they did far better than everyone expected, didn't they? I think it's been described not so much as the watershed, but as a kind of a launch pad,

hasn't it, or a sort of a lift-off for the Rassamplement National.

It was a surprise and it's totally significant that they've returned so many elected representatives.

What is it, nearly 90, and having had only eight.

They've been present on the ground, haven't they, for quite some time?

And I think Marine Le Pen, the candidate who was just defeated in the presidential election,

...