The French extreme right wing takes its root in Poujadism. The closest equivalent would be something like Peronism. It's basically a mix of protectionist ideas mixed with a lot of welfare programs. It tend to be reactionary on many social issues, but it is anchored firmly on the left. Most supporters of the FN today are blue collar, and it's not surprise that one of their 'thinkers', Alain Soral came from the far left - they're pretty similar.

As far as the attitude of French people on economic issues, just look at the polls instead of making ad hominem an quips http://www.latribune.fr/actualites/economie/20110125trib0005... http://www.croissance-responsable.fr/commissions/sondage-les... http://www.ifop.fr/?option=com_publication&type=poll&id=2637

The FN has historically been a mix of economic liberalism and nationalism. They may surf on a more socialist way because it's fashionable nowadays, but that's all.

I looked briefly at the polls you linked to. People think that the current economic system profits unfairly to a small minority? Is that being far left now? A third thinking capitalism is not the way forward becomes "the population polls left of Cuba"?

The FN has a brief foray in economic liberalism in the 80's which was primarily an opportunistic way to capitalize on the shock of having the socialists in power. It didn't last and the success you allude too came after they turned towards an anti-capitalist and anti-free market rhetoric.

There's a specific poll that I'm trying to dig which was about attitudes towards free markets and capitalism where French citizens polled among the least favorable country in the world, below Cubans. I didn't just make it up as a quip.

In the 80s? LePen sr was all for lower taxes, the end of subventions, much less government intervention, drastic cuts in public spending well into the 2000s. It's only with the arrival of his daughter at the head of the party and her attempts at making it look more respectable that things changed.

You mean in 2002 when he was advocating a welfare payment equivalent to the minimum wage to all parents and heavy tariffs?