Marine Le Pen vows 'trial of strength' with EU if elected president

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 21:33 · Archive

France's far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen has promised a confrontation with the EU over its budget if elected president.

Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Rally leader, has promised a 'trial of strength' with the European Union over its budget if she is elected president. The 58-year-old is the frontrunner for France's April presidential election, as incumbent Emmanuel Macron steps down after two consecutive terms.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Le Pen described the EU's push for a seven-year budget before the French election as 'deeply objectionable'. She said this 'reveals the contempt the Commission has for democratic processes in Europe'. Le Pen's political career has been defined against the European bloc, and she has promised to cut France's contribution to the EU budget, though she acknowledged this would be difficult.

'We know there will be a tough debate, even a trial of strength,' she said. 'But we have the will and the conviction that we will be able to do it.' The EU Commission has proposed a budget for 2028–2034 worth nearly €2 trillion, significantly higher than the roughly €1.2 trillion budget for the 2021–2027 period. Several EU member states, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, want to cut several hundred billion euros from the proposal, while France has called for an ambitious budget.

How it is being reported

• Marine Le Pen promises ‘trial of strength’ with EU if elected French presidentMarine Le Pen is the frontrunner to win the French presidential election next yearIndependent World · 14 Oct, 21:18
• France’s Marine Le Pen gears up for fight with EUFar-right leader promises a ‘trial of strength’ in FT interview even as she tries to reassure voters over her pragmatismFinancial Times · 14 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Marine Le Pen · European Union · France · National Rally · Emmanuel Macron · Germany

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