If his Rassemblement National (RN) party wins the election, French right-wing populist Jordan Bardella wants to impose certain professional bans on French people with dual nationality. “Strategic positions in the state will be reserved for French citizens,” said Bardella at the presentation of his election program on Monday in Paris. This is to “protect against foreign attempts at interference.”
Bardella confirmed that he would seek the office of Prime Minister after the early elections on June 30 and July 7. However, he would only take on the role if he had an absolute majority in the National Assembly. “I am not taking on the office for my personal honour,” he said: “I want the power to exercise it.”
If his camp gets an absolute majority, he will aim for a “government of national unity” in which he also wants to appoint representatives of civil society. “We are ready,” said Bardella, referring to taking power after the election.
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.
He affirmed his “respect” for the German-French partnership, but at the same time 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 RN party leader.
Bardella reiterated that Ukraine should continue to receive support in principle. He described the delivery of long-range missiles and the deployment of French ground troops to Ukraine as a “red line”. “I see Russia as a multidimensional threat,” said Bardella, thus moving further away from his party’s previous election program, in which Russia was named as a partner until recently.
In terms of domestic policy, Bardella has reduced or postponed several of his previous election promises, such as the withdrawal of pension reform. He cited the economic situation in France, which is “virtually bankrupt,” as the reason for this. “Seven years of Macron have weakened the country,” he said. Nevertheless, if he wins the election, he wants to reduce VAT on electricity and fuel and negotiate exceptions in Brussels.
The RN leader reiterated his plans to prevent immigration – such as higher hurdles for family reunification and systematic deportations of foreigners without papers. In his criticism of the program of the left-green electoral alliance, Bardella alluded to the far-right conspiracy theory of a population exchange: The policies of the left-wing alliance “New Popular Front” would lead to “the French identity being displaced on its own soil in an unprecedented way,” said Bardella.
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.
After his party’s defeat in the European elections, French President Emmanuel Macron called for early parliamentary elections on June 30 and July 7. In the polls, Bardella’s party 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.
