The US must look to France and Britain for inspiration to defend democracy

Once again, pundits in America and Europe are advancing a narrative of democratic erosion and far-right ascendancy

(Left to right) Leaders of France's left-wing coalition in June: the Green Party's Yannick Jadot; Communist Party national secretary Fabien Roussel; Socialist Party Secretary General Olivier Faure; President of the Green Party Marine Tondelier and far-left Manuel Bompard. The coalition took many pundits by surprise. File photo: AP/Thomas Padilla

Think back to late June and early July. 

The French far right was favored to win a snap parliamentary election. Trumpist judges in the United States were conveniently resolving the legal woes of the former president, who seemed to be gliding to victory after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance. And while Britain was getting a Labour government, a new anti-immigration party led by the chief Brexiteer, Nigel Farage, had made unprecedented gains.