Less than a week before the first round of the parliamentary elections in France, President Emmanuel Macron has described the parties on the right and left as a threat to the country. The political programs of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN) and the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI) could lead to a “civil war,” he said in a podcast on Monday. Meanwhile, RN leader Jordan Bardella reiterated that he is aiming for the office of prime minister. His party is “ready” to take power.
Macron said in the podcast “Generation Do It Yourself” that the RN is “dividing society and pushing it towards civil war.” La France Insoumise is proposing a “form of communitarianism.” This too could lead to civil war, the president added.
RN leader Bardella criticized the comments: “A President of the Republic should not say something like that,” he told broadcaster M6. He wanted to “restore security for all French people,” Bardella added.
After his party’s defeat in the European elections, Macron called for early parliamentary elections on June 30 and July 7. In the polls, the RN is ahead with 35 percent, followed by the left-green electoral alliance “New Popular Front” with just under 30 percent. Macron’s government camp is lagging behind at around 20 percent.
RN leader Bardella confirmed at the presentation of his election program in Paris that he was aiming for the office of prime minister. However, he would only take on this role if he had an absolute majority in the National Assembly. If his camp received an absolute majority, he would aim for a “government of national unity” to which he would also appoint representatives of civil society.
The right-wing populist rejected the warning issued by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) against a victory for the right-wing populists in France. “These are political reservations from a political competitor with whom we do not agree,” said Bardella. If he becomes head of government, however, he would definitely like to “start a conversation with the Chancellor,” said the 28-year-old.
At the same time, he announced a more self-confident French presence in the EU. In particular, he wants to negotiate a reduced French contribution to the EU budget, said the party leader of the Rassemblement National (RN).
Bardella reiterated that Ukraine should continue to receive support in principle. However, he described the delivery of long-range missiles and the deployment of French ground troops to Ukraine as a “red line”.
Macron, meanwhile, stressed his country’s “unequivocal determination” to continue to support Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. The president said he was not weakened on the diplomatic stage and that he would continue to set France’s course in Ukraine policy, even if he may have to come to terms with a prime minister who is less committed to supporting Kyiv after the election.
With regard to domestic policy, RN leader Bardella announced that if his party wins the election, certain professional bans would be imposed on French people with dual nationality. “Strategic state positions will be reserved for French nationals,” said Bardella. This will serve to “protect against foreign attempts at interference.”
At the same time, he limited several of his previous election promises or postponed them to a later date, such as the withdrawal of pension reform. He cited France’s economic situation as the reason for this. Nevertheless, if he wins the election, he wants to reduce VAT on electricity and fuel and negotiate exceptions in Brussels for this.
The RN leader confirmed his plans to prevent immigration – for example by raising the bar for family reunification and systematically deporting foreigners without papers. With regard to school policy, Bardella promised a “big bang of authority”. This included a complete ban on mobile phones in schools up to the Abitur and the nationwide introduction of school uniforms from primary school onwards. The previously uniform middle school system is to be replaced by a multi-level school system based on the German example.