If the French far right wins an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections, France could lose influence within the European Union, according to Sébastien Maillard, speaking on Wednesday 26 June at the Jacques Delors Institute’s Euroquestions seminar.
In this case, far-right ministers would sit on the EU Council. According to Sébastien Maillard, this could change the French position on issues such as immigration, the rule of law and aid to Ukraine, to name but a few. Especially as French ministers from the ‘Rassemblement National’ (RN) “should not be too isolated” in the Council of the EU, he believes.
Since the French President, Emmanuel Macron, “would still represent France at the European Council”, France would be speaking “with two contradictory voices” in European bodies, especially as the RN, with 30 seats now, is the largest French delegation in the European Parliament.
What’s more, “a majority of the RN in the National Assembly might not follow European regulations”, particularly as regards the ‘European Green Deal’. The risk, according to Mr Maillard, would be to “diminish French authority on the European stage”, at a time when President Macron is trying to influence the direction of the EU. (Original version in French by Paul Charles – Intern)