Dieu le Roi
The horrors of the Weltkrieg and the political ascendency of the Pope in Rome triggered a surge of Catholic sentiment across Europe. The masses, sickened by the wickedness of Earthly rulers, turned to tradition and faith for protection. The Carlists of Spain and the Zentrum Party of Germany have arisen to fight the good fight and defend the faith. The people of France have answered with Dieu le Roi (God is King).
Dieu le Roi’s beginnings are shrouded in mist. It reached national attention in the late 1920s when apparently spontaneous gatherings of peasants at pilgrimage sites across France declared that the will of God would sweep away the corrupt kings of Europe. These mass gatherings continued to grow and clarified their goals in the Edict of Tours, which has since served as the guiding document of this populist movement. Dieu le Roi clearly existed previous to the edict in certain clerical circles. The organization claims to be descended from a secret organization established in the Vendee during the revolution.
In the years since, Dieu le Roi has built a strong following amongst the industrial and agricultural working class of France. Sites of pilgrimage and faith healing have become host to torch-lit political rallies where demagogic priests whip the faithful into a rapturous frenzy. These rallies have in turn evolved into bonfires of indexed books and midnight marches to show the strength of the faithful. The upper echelons of the party are populated by activist clergy. Strong connections to Masonic and Rosicrucian circles are in evidence, but denied.
The full extent of Dieu le Roi’s connections to other radical catholic groups is unknown, but is certainly great. Senior party members have entertained Xavier de Bourbon and Cardinal Innitzer on several occasions. The group has obvious connections to Christus Rex in Flandern-Wallonia. Its relations with the centrist Zentrum party of Germany are noticeably cooler, however. Dieu le Roi feeds on feelings of pan-catholic unity, and aspirations of a catholic alliance or even union have been constant feature of party speeches.
Dieu le Roi thrives because it offers what other parties do not: virtue unclouded by atheistic ideology. It stands in sharp contrast to godless communism and decadent liberalism. It will feed and house the poor, for it is time for the meek to inherit the Earth! It will raise a mighty army, for the wicked may never feel safe from God’s wrath. It will extirpate the toxic heresies and errors that cloud the public discourse, for that which is not truth should not be uttered.
As to the army, no longer will the God-fearing world tremble before the spread of communism! No longer will the sodomite, protestant yoke of Mitteleuropa strangle the lifeblood of Europe. Dieu le Roi will transform the French people into a crusading army of the Lord. A massive standing army, maintained through conscription, will be more than a match for any opponent.
As to foreign policy, Dieu le Roi insists on building an alliance with catholic nations around the globe. It seeks to challenge the hegemony of Miteleuropa and roll back the canker of communism. The rights of Christians in the darker corners of the Earth must be defended, opening up new areas of French interest. The Holy Land, in particular, quakes beneath the boot of Turk and Saracen. It is high time to launch a new crusade to sweep the Mohammedans from the country of Christ. Such a venture would be a great show of strength, and bring the Word back the place it originated.
As to the economy, Dieu le Roi looks not to Marx or Smith, but to the Good Book. The end of economic activity is not some godless utopia or the enrichment of usurers, but the welfare of the poor and the sustenance of the army. The unemployed masses shall be drafted to reap the fruits of the Earth. Fallow land shall be plowed and new mines shall be sunk. This work will occupy many idle hands and supply the resources to power our growing industry. More crops will feed the hungry and pave the way for a demographic boom.
As to society, Dieu le Roi will provide drastic action to correct the moral errors that have befallen the French people. Strict censorship must be instated and education should be left to the Church. A powerful internal security apparatus must direct itself to rooting out dangerous ideologies. Young men must be instilled with a willingness to fight and die for their faith and nation. Young women must be encouraged to be fruitful and multiply. Draconian penalties must be enforced on the sale and use of birth control. Military honors should be bestowed on women who give birth to many sons. With these policies, the French race will be myriad. Dieu le Roi will bring back traditional values to French society.
With the coming 1936 elections, Dieu le Roi has mobilized to bring national populism to France. A Dieu le Roi victory will make France the central power in the coming catholic revolution and propel it to greatness…even glory. Join and vote Dieu le Roi!
(Sorry tuore, the electorate needs more options!)