
10 hours · 2 summary articles
Far-right French leaders Le Pen and Bardella condemn Russias asset seizures and intimidation as hostile acts
Frances far-right leaders reject Russian interference, vow Paris sets foreign policy
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, leaders of France’s far-right National Rally, issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning Russia’s attempts to influence French policy through intimidation, threats, and destabilization.
The statement followed Russia’s recent seizure of assets belonging to French retailer Auchan and Swiss company Nestlé, which Le Pen and Bardella called a “hostile act against the interests of France and the nations of Europe.” They declared that “no provocation, no covert operation, and no act of destabilization can induce France to help Russia achieve its war aims in Ukraine,” emphasizing that France’s foreign policy is decided in Paris, not Moscow .
The leaders also referenced Russia-linked hybrid threats, including an August drone attack at Leipzig airport, and pledged support for measures to strengthen security for France’s strategic infrastructure. The statement came a day after President Emmanuel Macron met with political leaders at the Élysée Palace to discuss geopolitical threats, including rising Russian hybrid actions against European countries .
Le Pen and Bardella distinguished between legitimate domestic debate on France’s level of financial aid to Ukraine and unacceptable foreign pressure, stating that while democratic discussion is permissible, external coercion is not .
Follow us for live European news
16 further sources not geolocated