Using deep beat knowledge, John Leicester and Samuel Petrequin identified a revealing trend when new French statistics showed record poverty levels. Suspecting a correlation with rising support for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, the pair dove into regional data to quantify that connection.
Their analysis showed direct, statistically significant links between economic hardship and far-right gains. To bring this story to life, they collaborated with interactive journalist Will Jarrett, whose vivid, intuitive maps allowed readers to track poverty and political shifts over the past decade — patterns unmatched by other media.
The team grounded the visuals with insights from economists and added political context through an exclusive interview with a former ally of the prime minister who lost re-election to a National Rally candidate.
The result was a timely, evidence-based package that illuminated the economic drivers reshaping France’s political map. It also cemented AP’s role as a go-to source for explaining the forces behind Europe’s far-right surge — especially as France heads toward a pivotal 2027 presidential election.
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