No longer is Jean-Marie Le Pen simply the politician of choice for French xenophobes - he's also making a brazen bid for the votes of the country's drivers. Particularly, it seems, those with a fondness for a drink and high speed.
Jean-Marie Le Pen in his preferred mode of transport. Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images
The official transport programme for Mr Le Pen's campaign in the looming presidential election, the first round of which takes place on April 22, is resolutely pro-car, complaining about a current policy of "autophobia" and the "state racket" of fines and penalty points.
Earlier this month, during a speech at a motor museum in the northern city of Reims, Mr Le Pen went further, saying drivers were being treated as "presumed criminals" and calling France's current maximum blood alcohol level of 0.5 micrograms per millilitre (against 0.8 in the UK) "excessively low".
Drivers should be able to travel at up to 150kph (just under 95mph) on motorways, he added.
Last week, in a question and answer session on a French motoring website, Mr Le Pen said he was in favour of the eventual abolition of the system of penalty points for driving infractions, as well as an amnesty for all penalties imposed for non-dangerous offences. He is also not that keen on speed cameras.
The three other major candidates in the election - Nicolas Sarkozy, Ségolène Royal and François Bayrou - also took part in the Q&A but were notably more circumspect.
Whatever the political rights and wrongs, surely Mr Le Pen's attitude is one that could catch on in Britain, a nation where almost 1.8 million angry motorists will happily sign up to an anti-road pricing petition.
Is Ukip paying attention?
