French Far Right's Long Hatred of de Gaulle May Now Claim His Legacy

Eight months before the French presidential election, and as de Gaulle enjoys renewed popularity in cinema, documentary filmmaker Jonathan Hayoun warns in a Le Monde op-ed that the General's memory has become a contested inheritance. He argues that the far right, which has historically harbored a persistent detestation of de Gaulle, might now succeed in appropriating his legacy to rewrite history. Hayoun's commentary highlights the strategic shift by the far right to claim a figure they once opposed, as the nation prepares to vote. The piece underscores the political stakes of memory and heritage in contemporary France, with de Gaulle's image being leveraged for electoral gain. The op-ed appears in the Ideas section of Le Monde, dated August 16, 2026.