French election poses existential threat to EU liberal order: Politico
2 Min Read
The election could potentially lead to the victory of the right-wing National Rally (RN), which has historical ties to collaborationist regimes and alleged links to Russia.
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Right-wing National Rally party President Jordan Bardella, right, leaves with far-right leader Marine Le Pen after a press conference, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Paris. (AP)
An analysis written by John Lichfield for Politico on Tuesday detailed that the upcoming parliamentary election in France poses a significant existential threat to the European Union and the liberal world order.
According to Lichfield, the election could potentially lead to the victory of the right-wing National Rally (RN), which has historical ties to collaborationist regimes and alleged links to Russia.
Critics warn that an RN-led government would undermine European unity, advocate for policies discriminating against immigrants, and potentially weaken Western alliances.
The party's stance on NATO's military integration and its alleged sympathetic ties to Moscow raise alarms about increased Russian influence in European affairs.
Amid economic concerns, French voters are set to make a decisive choice that could reverberate globally.
French President Emmanuel Macron's challenges in addressing domestic issues like inflation and immigration have fueled discontent, creating an opening for RN's populist agenda.
Read more: Brits, French express pessimism amid EU elections: Poll
French President Macron's party is lagging severely with less than two weeks until the first round of snap elections, which he called in reaction to the extreme right's thrashing in European polls.
Earlier on Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was "concerned" about the far-right's potential win in France's next legislative elections.
Last month, at a rally in Germany, Macron warned against a growing "fascination for authoritarianism" in both major EU nations.
"We forget too often that it's a fight to protect democracy," Macron said, standing alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier echoed Macron's sentiments as he called for "an alliance of democrats in Europe".
