Dumbest Political Divide Is Slam Dunk For Right In Europe

For all the tedium of American political debates, at least we don’t have to defend air-conditioning.

Not so in France, where “air-conditioning has become part of the political tug of war” amid a summer heat wave, writes The New York Times (NYT). 

On the side of air-conditioning, and reason, is Marine Le Pen. Le Pen is variously described as “far-right” (as by the NYT), “right-wing,” or “conservative,” depending on the author’s politics. (RELATED: ‘FREE MARINE LE PEN!’: Trump Voices Support For French Right-Wing Politician After Prison Sentence, Ban From Elections)

She’s promised to deploy a “major air-conditioning equipment plan” if her party gains national control, according to the NYT. 

Terrific news for Marine Le Pen: the French left is campaigning *against* air conditioning amid a heat wave while her far-right party is promising a sweeping expansion of cooling equipment. pic.twitter.com/hv0eW9TDZB

— Alexander C. Kaufman (@AlexCKaufman) August 12, 2025

Le Pen is a former leader of the National Rally party and a front-runner for France’s 2027 presidential election. That is, until March, when Le Pen was barred from seeking public office for five years by a criminal court judge, supposedly for embezzlement offenses. 

Anti-sweat activism is frowned upon by the likes of Marine Tondelier, the leader of France’s “The Ecologists” party. Tondelier prefers the “greening” of cities and a total “ecological and social” overhaul, according to a translation of remarks from her X account. 

“Air-conditioning is what you’d call a maladaptation,” said Dan Lert, deputy mayor of Parisian “ecological transition” policy, according to the NYT. “To fix a real problem, you make it worse.”

The next presidential election will truly test the French’s affinity for self-flagellation. One party offers a suicidal immigration policy and heat stroke. The other party offers not that. (RELATED: ‘Would Come To An End’: France’s Liberal Darling President May Have A Real Problem On His Hands)

💨 Great article in @FT today urging Europe to stop restricting the installation and use of air conditioning

If Europe continues its current course and keeps regulating against air conditioning, then heat-related deaths will soon reach over 500,000 per year

Installing AC in… https://t.co/j2e7mnMAW7 pic.twitter.com/rJcMP2iKe9

— @levelsio (@levelsio) July 11, 2025

About 175,000 people die from “heat related causes” per year in Europe, according to the United Nations. Slightly more than 14,000 Americans have died “directly from heat-related causes” since 1979, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

One has to wonder if Europe’s leaders hate Europeans. No air-conditioning for the French. State-mandated stuck windows for the British. Shuttered nuclear power plants for the Germans.

And waves of unvetted migrants for everyone.

Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatSandovalDC