Equality and Reconciliation
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA French political association founded in 2007 that promotes a nationalist, anti-globalization program described by the organization as combining the labor left with the moral right.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Equality and Reconciliation, commonly known by its French name Égalité et Réconciliation and the abbreviation E&R, is a French political association established in June 2007. It was founded by Alain Soral, a former French Communist Party activist who was then associated with the National Front, together with Jildaz Mahé O’Chinal and Philippe Péninque, both former activists of the Groupe Union Défense. The association presents itself as a cross-factional movement seeking to unite elements of the economic or labor left with what it calls the moral right. Its preferred formulation is often rendered as being on the left for work and on the right for morals. E&R’s stated program combines opposition to liberal financial capitalism, criticism of established parties, economic nationalism, national sovereignty, and a concept of national preference. It rejects a federal European political model, criticizes European integration and fiscal rules, and argues that political action should be organized around the nation. Its discourse draws selectively on Marxist class analysis, French nationalist traditions, anti-globalization arguments, and references to figures and movements outside the conventional French left-right spectrum. The association has expressed sympathy for governments and political currents described as non-aligned, including those associated with Russia, Venezuela, Serbia, Iran, and Palestine. Although E&R describes itself as independent and initially considered transforming into a political party, it ultimately retained an associative and movement-based structure. It has supported the National Front and Marine Le Pen while maintaining a separate organizational identity. Several figures linked to the association have also had relationships with the broader French far-right milieu. Analysts and researchers generally classify E&R as an extreme-right organization or as part of the ecosystem surrounding the French far right, rather than accepting its self-description as a synthesis of left-wing economic concerns and right-wing cultural positions. The association’s activities have included political activism, conferences, intellectual events, cultural programming, sporting activities, online publishing, press reviews, video distribution, and poster campaigns. It organized summer universities at Villepreux in 2007 and 2008, with programs covering nationalism, Marxism, European integration, geopolitics, political strategy, propaganda, identity, and communications. Its website has served as a central communications platform and has distributed commentary, media appearances, and material associated with Alain Soral and allied figures. E&R has also been the subject of substantial criticism. Observers have accused it of promoting antisemitic conspiracy narratives, particularly through attacks on alleged Zionist influence and on French Jewish or pro-Israel political actors. Its positions on feminism and women’s employment have likewise drawn criticism. In 2023, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism classified the organization as conspiratorial and antisemitic. These characterizations are disputed by the organization’s own self-presentation but are important to understanding how it is categorized by external researchers. The group claimed several hundred members during its early years, but the available historical figures were self-reported and varied according to the definition of membership. No reliable current membership, financial, ownership, or leadership information is established by the supplied sources. Accordingly, E&R is best documented as a French political association and media-activism network rather than as a conventional consumer brand or commercial company.
History
Equality and Reconciliation was created in June 2007 by Alain Soral, Jildaz Mahé O’Chinal, and Philippe Péninque. Its origins connected former communist activism, French nationalist politics, and the far-right activist milieu associated with the Groupe Union Défense. The organization’s founding concept was to create a political synthesis between the “labor left” and the “moral right,” presenting national solidarity and social protection as compatible with patriotism, cultural conservatism, and opposition to liberal globalization. The association rapidly developed a public profile through meetings, political education, online media, and relationships with figures from several parts of the French radical political scene. Its first summer university took place at Villepreux on 8–9 September 2007. The event included speakers from nationalist, sovereigntist, anti-globalization, and far-right circles. A second event was held at Villepreux on 1–2 November 2008 and addressed European integration, the relationship between Marxism and the nation, political strategy, propaganda, French identity, and communications. During its early period, E&R considered becoming a political party, with a proposed transition discussed for 2010. That plan was abandoned in favor of maintaining an association and activist network. The organization instead pursued what it described as an alternative way of doing politics through publications, public talks, online content, regional activities, cultural events, and political campaigns. It established a presence in multiple French regions and used its website as a major channel for commentary, media reviews, videos, and ideological material. E&R’s political positions combined hostility toward financial capitalism and criticism of both the Socialist Party and the mainstream right with opposition to federal European integration. It advocated national sovereignty and a form of national preference, while also attempting to attract voters and activists disillusioned with both the traditional left and the right. Despite its independent structure, the association supported the National Front and Marine Le Pen. Its network overlapped with figures close to the National Front, including Philippe Péninque and others associated with the French far-right environment. The association’s international outlook emphasized support for states and movements it regarded as resisting Western liberal hegemony. It expressed approval of Russia under Vladimir Putin, Venezuela under Hugo Chávez, Serbia, Iran, and the Palestinian cause. In late 2009, E&R participated in efforts to welcome Putin during a visit to France, reportedly alongside the Russian embassy and members of the French-Russian community. In 2009, Alain Soral also appeared in fifth position on an anti-Zionist list led by Dieudonné for the European Parliament election in the Île-de-France region; the list received 1.30 percent of the regional vote. Public criticism of E&R has focused particularly on antisemitism, conspiracy theories, hostility to feminism, and its place within the extreme-right ecosystem. Analysts have argued that the organization’s opposition to Israel and alleged Zionist influence frequently extends into antisemitic narratives. It has also been described as a recruitment or socialization environment for future National Front activists. In February 2010, Marc George was reportedly removed from a leadership role after material concerning the Harkis apology and a possible memorial to François Duprat appeared on the association’s website; he subsequently left the organization. Membership figures from the early years were self-reported and inconsistent. E&R claimed 600 members in March 2008, while Marc George later cited 800 supporters and 300 paying members. Alain Soral claimed approximately 800 members in 2009 and again in spring 2012. The organization also claimed that 150 people marched under its banner in Paris during the National Front’s 1 May 2008 demonstration. These figures should not be treated as independently verified. The supplied references do not establish the association’s current leadership, legal status, membership, finances, or present-day operational scale. Its current status is therefore recorded as unknown, although its official website remains the principal identified organizational channel.
- 2023
External extremism classification
[1]The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism classifies the organization as conspiratorial and antisemitic.
- 2010
Party-conversion plan abandoned
[1]The association gives up plans to become a political party and continues as an activist association.
- 2010
“French Chavez” campaign
[1]E&R launches a campaign expressing support for Hugo Chávez and opposition to American imperialism.
- 2009
Soral appears on an anti-Zionist European election list
[1]Alain Soral runs in fifth position on Dieudonné’s anti-Zionist list in Île-de-France, which receives 1.30 percent of the regional vote.
- 2008
Second Villepreux university
[1]A second university addresses the European Union, nationalism, Marxism, activism, propaganda, identity, and communications.
- 2008
Nationalist poster campaign announced
[1]E&R announces a campaign using a pro-nationalist slogan and portraits of international political figures.
- 2007
Association founded
[1]Alain Soral, Jildaz Mahé O’Chinal, and Philippe Péninque establish Equality and Reconciliation in France.
- 2007
First summer university at Villepreux
[1]The association holds its first summer university, featuring speakers and workshops from nationalist, sovereigntist, and radical political milieus.
Products and positioning
E&R positions itself as a cross-factional, nationalist movement combining economic themes associated with the labor left with socially conservative and patriotic themes associated with the right. External analysts generally place it on the French extreme right and associate it with conspiratorial and antisemitic discourse.
Digital media
Égalité et Réconciliation website
The association’s principal identified communications platform. It publishes or aggregates press reviews, political commentary, videos, lectures, and material connected with the movement’s nationalist, anti-globalization, sovereigntist, and culturally conservative positions.
Events · 2007
Political conferences and summer universities
E&R has organized political education and networking events, including summer universities at Villepreux in 2007 and 2008. Topics included European integration, Marxism, nationalism, propaganda, activism, geopolitics, identity, and communications.
Political communications · 2008
Poster campaigns
The association has used posters to communicate nationalist and anti-imperialist themes, including a 2008 campaign centered on nationalism and a 2010 campaign calling for a French political figure modeled on Hugo Chávez.
Controversies
2023
Classification as a conspiratorial and antisemitic group
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism classified E&R as conspiratorial and antisemitic. The classification reflects external analysis of the association’s ideology and communications, particularly its narratives concerning Zionism and alleged influence networks.
2010
Leadership dispute involving Marc George
Marc George was reportedly dismissed as secretary general after publication of material concerning the Harkis apology and a possible memorial to François Duprat. He left the organization soon afterward.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010We want a French Chavez!
France
A campaign presented Hugo Chávez as an example of resistance to American imperialism and sought to popularize a comparable political model for France.
- 2008Long live nationalism!
France
A poster campaign promoted nationalism and displayed portraits of Fidel Castro, Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chávez, Patrice Lumumba, and Thomas Sankara.
Brand decisions
2010
Remain an association rather than become a political partyStrategyBackground
E&R had considered converting into a political party, but the proposed transition was ultimately abandoned.
Action taken
The organization retained an associative and movement-based structure and continued political activity through media, events, campaigning, and regional networks.
Aftermath
The supplied sources describe E&R thereafter as an independent political association rather than an electoral party.
Sources2 sources
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