Editorial: Liberation

• The Horaces, a group primarily of men, was formed in 2015 to use their intelligence and expertise in the service of Marine Le Pen.
• Despite Marine Le Pen's failed impression during the 2017 presidential debate, the Horaces group continues to work, expanding their circle and recruiting more experts.
• The rising influence of this shadow cabinet plays a central role in the strategy of destigmatizing the far right.
• There is an increased professionalization of the RN with the entrance of 88 deputies into the National Assembly.
• While the Horaces may have managed to soften some of the RN's more extreme proposals, these experts are just a veneer of respectability. The real, dangerous and xenophobic core of the RN has not changed.

Conclusion: The Horaces may have influenced in moderating some of the RN's more extreme proposals, but the group's core remains dangerous and xenophobic. The growing power and influence of such groups in far-right strategies raises concern.

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