French premier warns of foreign policy impacts in case of far-right victory in elections

By Nur Asena Erturk

France’s prime minister warned Thursday of foreign policy impacts in case of a right-wing victory in the upcoming elections.

Gabriel Attal presented the program of the Renaissance party and its partners allied under the name “Together for the Republic” to contest the legislative election that will be held next week.

The victory of the right-wing parties would provoke a blockage of the European Union, as well as the start of “Frexit,” Attal said, referring to the risk of France parting ways with the European bloc.

“It is also the end of most of the support for Ukraine,” Attal added, recalling that the far-right party National Rally President Jordan Bardella said he would revise France’s support for Kyiv.

Attal also targeted the left-wing parties, describing their alliance as a “cacophony” that gathers Ukraine supporters with "admirers" of Russia.

Decreasing by 15% the electricity bills this winter, upgrading the monthly retirement pensions, encouraging the four-day working system, building 14 new nuclear reactors, and cutting by 20% the greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 are among Attal and his party’s major plans after the elections.

Attal also vowed to double the military budget by 2030.

He emphasized that these will only be legislative elections, and President Emmanuel Macron will remain in his seat until 2027, whatever the results may be.

After the far-right party National Rally got more than 30% of the votes in the EU elections on June 9, President Macron acknowledged the defeat of his centrist alliance, dissolved the parliament and announced snap elections.

Left- and right-wing parties started talks to form alliances on their respective sides.

The left-wing parties announced an alliance under the name “New Popular Front,” however, the right wing faced a crisis over various formulas.

The legislative elections will be held in two rounds: the first on June 30 and the second on July 7.