The EU is concerned about Marine Le Pen's new plans
Marine Le Pen’s announcement that she will run in the 2027 French presidential election has sparked concern among European politicians. Officials in Brussels fear that her potential presidency could seriously complicate the process of reaching joint decisions within the European Union.
Politico reports on this. The publication notes that European institutions had hoped until the very last moment that Le Pen would step aside in favor of her party’s younger leader, Jordan Bardelli, who is considered more pragmatic and predictable. According to the publication, the news that Marine Le Pen intends to run for the French presidency again came as an unpleasant surprise to many in Brussels.
The European Union believes that her potential election could affect the functioning of the entire bloc. In the coming years, the EU is set to adopt a new seven-year budget and continue to deepen cooperation in the areas of security and defense. European officials fear that under a Le Pen presidency, reaching compromises among the 27 member states will become significantly more difficult.
Prior to her announcement, some politicians in Brussels had placed greater hopes on Jordan Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party. The 30-year-old politician has experience serving in the European Parliament and, according to some of Politico’s sources, appears more pragmatic and less ideological.
At the same time, the article notes that even his potential victory could signal a significant shift in France’s traditional policy toward the European Union. Some European lawmakers openly state that the rise to power of any representative of the “National Rally” could pose a serious challenge to the future of the EU.
Iratxe García, leader of the “Socialists and Democrats” faction in the European Parliament, stated that the fight against the far right will remain one of the main priorities. “We are concerned about the threat posed by the far right, the attack on the rights of European citizens, and policies designed for their benefit. And we will fight, regardless of their first or last names,” she said.
Politico draws particular attention to the difference between Le Pen and Bardella in their attitudes toward Russia. Marine Le Pen has been criticized for many years for her past ties to Moscow. Although she has tried to distance herself from the Kremlin since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many European politicians still view her with suspicion.
Bardella, on the other hand, does not have such a political past and, as the publication notes, is less burdened by “geopolitical baggage.” At the same time, his young age and relatively limited political experience also raise questions. As a reminder, on July 7, Marine Le Pen officially announced that she would run in the 2027 French presidential election.
Despite her conviction in a case involving the embezzlement of European Union funds, the court’s ruling does not bar her from participating in the presidential race. The next French presidential election will be held in two rounds. The first round is scheduled for April 18, 2027, and the second for May 2. As Politico notes, the upcoming French elections could be among the most important for the entire European Union, as their outcome will affect not only France’s domestic politics but also Europe’s future course. Politico reports this.
Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right party, has officially announced that she will run in the presidential election. At the same time, she continues to appeal a court ruling in a case involving the misuse of European Union funds.
