French diplomacy could be headed for an unprecedented period of turbulence if the far-right wins a snap parliamentary election, with President Emmanuel Macron and a potential National Rally (RN) prime minister jostling for the right to speak for France.… | By diplomaticbriefing on June 30, 2024 | French diplomacy could be headed for an unprecedented period of turbulence if the far-right wins a snap parliamentary election, with President Emmanuel Macron and a potential National Rally (RN) prime minister jostling for the right to speak for France. Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant, eurosceptic RN extended its lead over Macron's centrist bloc, according to opinion polls published on Friday, the last day of campaigning before Sunday's first round of voting. A second round will take place on July 7. Voters and diplomats alike have long been accustomed to the president calling the shots in foreign and security policy for France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a nuclear power, with one of Europe's most powerful militaries. But what is known in France as the president's "reserved area" of defence and diplomacy is not explicitly stated in the constitution but is more a matter of convention, and this could spell trouble if the RN forms the next government. During the three previous periods of "cohabitation" since 1958 - when the president and prime minister hail from different parties - tensions sometimes erupted but were quickly doused. This time could prove more difficult, and Jordan Bardella, the 28-year old RN leader and likely next prime minister, has already indicated he would challenge Macron on global issues. Even before the election, the battle lines are being drawn. Macron told leaders from the European Union's liberal Renew grouping in Brussels on Thursday he would propose faithful ally Thierry Breton as France's commissioner in the next EU executive, a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity. That came after Bardella said he was considering other candidates for the job. Le Pen swiftly decried Macron's move. "Emmanuel Macron is anticipating a victory he cannot win. So he won't be able to name Mr Breton," she told Europe 1 radio. "It is the prime minister's prerogative to name the European Commissioner." (https://neuters.de/world/europe/french-diplomacy-faces-turbulent-time-if-far-right-wins-election-2024-06-28/) Le Pen was within her rights to interpret the founding charter that way, but that it could ultimately come back to haunt her, as a president has various ways of making a government's life difficult. | | | | You can also reply to this email to leave a comment. | | | | |
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