Macron using fear, belligerent rhetoric to reclaim influence: Le Pen
3 Min Read
Last week, the French president suggested opening discussions on whether France's nuclear weapons should be used to protect the entire European Union.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks to the media as she arrives at the court house in Paris, Monday, September 30, 2024. (AP)
French opposition leader Marine Le Pen has accused President Emmanuel Macron of escalating his rhetoric in an attempt to regain France's diplomatic influence after being sidelined in Ukraine peace negotiations. The National Rally leader argued that while the US and Russia engage in direct talks to end the war, France and the European Union have been left out of the discussions.
"The tragedy is that the US and Russia are preparing a peace deal, and the EU is not present at the negotiating table. This is a huge loss in influence, especially for France, which has lost it on a much larger scale than other EU countries," Le Pen stated while speaking to reporters at the Flamanville nuclear power plant in northwestern France.
She accused Macron of relying on media appearances and stirring public fears to compensate for France's diminished role. "He can see the influence slipping away, so he starts using grave words and belligerent rhetoric, as it feels in-place and serving for something," she remarked.
The opposition leader dismissed Macron's assertion that Russia poses an imminent threat to France. She also reiterated her party's opposition to increasing military assistance to Ukraine, a topic that will be debated in the French parliament on Wednesday. Le Pen further opposed Ukraine's potential EU membership, claiming it would be disastrous for France's agricultural sector. "The death" of French farmers, she warned.
Macron's stance on european defense sparks Kremlin response
Le Pen's comments come in response to Macron's recent declaration that Russia represents a danger to both France and Europe. Last week, the French president suggested opening discussions on whether France's nuclear weapons should be used to protect the entire European Union.
The proposal was met with criticism from the Kremlin, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeling Macron's remarks "confrontational and inaccurate." He further argued that Macron ignored Russia's concerns about NATO's military expansion near its borders.
Reacting to Macron's proposal, the right-wing leader stated that France's nuclear deterrent "must not be shared, let alone delegated," adding that "French defense must remain French defense."
Read more: Le Pen rejects European nuclear defense plan: Politico
