Far-right influencers revolt against National Rally after controversial vote

A controversial abstention by France's National Rally (RN) party on a proposed law to ban social media for individuals under 15 has ignited a firestorm among far-right influencers. These online figures, who have previously supported the RN, are now crying betrayal, accusing the party of a "treacherous" move.

The backlash underscores the delicate balancing act the RN faces as it pursues a strategy of normalization and seeks to broaden its appeal. The party's leadership is attempting to shed its radical image, but this decision has exposed deep fissures with the more extreme elements of the online sphere that have been crucial to its support base.

This internal conflict within the far-right ecosystem reveals the challenges the RN encounters in reconciling its mainstream ambitions with the radical elements it has historically relied upon. The abstention on the social media ban has clearly alienated a segment of its most vocal online supporters, creating a public rift.