In that perspective, an important distinction needs to be drawn between the Republic and the Revolution. The Revolution was a breach; the Republic is a stable and secure regime. The French Right has found in it a suitable and moderate tradition, but not all the Republics are alike: the one that the Right cherishes is the Republic in its first manifestation, rigorous and meritocratic, not socialist. While the Left is still aiming at a permanent revolution, now focused on minorities and gender, the Right is keen to halt the Republic where it is. Hence the paradox: this Republic now has all the characteristics of a conservative regime, and indeed embodies French conservative tradition. This French conservatism is rather special: it has arrived, through another route, at some of Anglophone conservatism’s conclusions; but at the same time it cannot take the side of Burke against Paine because of Republican history. It has to take both sides at the same time, as nonsensical as this may sound. As much as I admire Burke and believe he was right in everything he wrote about order, tradition and continuity, he was probably unable to see that the only possible transition for the French people from absolutism to liberalism was by means of a violent disruption — that of 1789, though not the Terror. To be Republican is the only way for the French Right to be liberal. To be old-style Republican is the only way for the French Right to be conservative.

It would greatly help if part of the French Right could gather under a conservative banner. But as a conservative, I have to accept that the tradition of the French Right is to be divided and promote change, even superficially. I have to accept as well that this conservatism is rather statist, has more to do with the Catholic than the Protestant tradition, and that the Burkean “little platoon” is at best unknown in France, at worst mostly feared, because it is seen as a dangerous symptom of the separatist aspirations of a “community” — another French taboo. French conservatism resembles Mrs Thatcher’s “society”: when thinking “there is no such thing as French conservatism”, you have to believe that there is one really, but not the one you usually imagine.

In those circumstances, let’s be conservative with what we have and accept that in France a conservative stance is possible, but the name isn’t, if one hopes to appeal to the majority of the Right. For its philosophical roots, we can count on the many cultural conservatives among French intellectuals. But the political task will be the hardest.

What is to be done? Save French schools from catastrophe while there is still time, uphold French culture and the French nation, give people a little more autonomy and business some fresh air. And no more name-changing, please. That would make a nice conservative start.