In Fréjus, France a young mayor is governing using the principles of Marine Le Pen’s National Front Party. His name is David Rachline and he’s 29 years old. Rachline has increased the police presence in Rachline, and has targeted fiscal responsibility by reducing debt and selling off city assets to reduce taxation. Now he’s running Le Pen’s campaign. If Le Pen is the “Donald Trump of France,” perhaps Rachline is the “Jared Kushner.” William Horobin writes of Rachline:
Since taking office three years ago, the 29-year-old mayor of this seaside Mediterranean resort has taken down European Union flags and flies only the French tricolor. He has celebrated the town’s Christian heritage, sought to shut down the local mosque and tried to ban Muslim swimwear known as burkinis—a move rejected by the courts.
Now the far-right National Front is trumpeting Mayor David Rachline’s record running this town of 53,000 as evidence it is ready to govern France. Opinion polls show party chief Marine Le Pen among the leading contenders for the French presidency, and Mr. Rachline is running her campaign.
The mayor has emphasized security—increasing video surveillance, expanding the municipal police force by 10% and equipping it with new cars and bulletproof vests. A staff of 11 now monitors images from more than 100 cameras around town.
Mr. Rachline has also sought to prove his competence as an administrator by bringing down the town’s crippling debt, cutting costs, and keeping a lid on taxation, in part by selling town assets.
“When French people get to know us and see we are reasonable—and certainly not extremists—things go very well,” Mr. Rachline said.
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