Paris The scenography was not an electoral rally or a party press conference. The number two of Le Pen’s extreme right, Jordan Bardella, possible new prime minister if National Reunification (RN) wins the legislative elections, presented to the press this Monday his electoral program in a scenario that inevitably recalled that of the press conferences of members of the government. Speaker and background wall with very light tones, French flag behind – there was no European flag, as usual – and no party logo. The message was clear: Bardella already sees himself as prime minister. “We are ready to govern,” he proclaimed.

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For the first time in history, Marine Le Pen’s party is seen governing France from July 8. If the polls are not mistaken, RN will be the majority party in the National Assembly after the legislative elections. And this implies that, unless there is an alternative majority or the RN resigns, the new prime minister will be Bardella.

Having power so close at hand has made the party, in the middle of the electoral campaign, leave some of its most radical and difficult to implement historical proposals on hold – such as the return to France of community competences – and present an electoral program less more disruptive than one might expect considering the ideas that Le Pen usually defends.

However, the extreme right does not slacken in its proposals to curb immigration or in its populist ideas, such as lower taxes. “The lack of immigration control for decades has made the assimilation of foreigners present in national territory impossible,” states the electoral program. The far-right party recognizes that in order to implement the bulk of its proposals on immigration, a constitutional reform is needed – which would require the support of a very large majority of the French Parliament. But, “while we wait for the reform – RN explains – we will put in place measures to restrict and control illegal but also legal immigration”. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Schengen for Europeans only

Among the immediate proposals, it stands out to “reserve” citizens with a European passport the application of the Schengen agreement, thanks to which internal borders in the European Union were abolished. In other words, people with non-EU passports cannot move freely between European countries. Bardella has not explained how a measure would be implemented that, in practice, would involve permanently reinstating border controls and would require European reform and agreement.

National Regroupment also wants to implement what is known as “national priority”, which means that French citizens have priority when it comes to accessing a job, obtaining public assistance and access to official protection flats , others. In fact, Bardella proposes to “reserve social aid for the French” and that only foreigners who have been in France for at least five years have access to emergency aid, such as the so-called RSA, a kind of minimum vital income. These proposals collide head-on with the French Constitution and the republican value of “equality”.

No right to nationality

The extreme right also wants to eliminate access to healthcare for foreigners who are in an irregular situation and limit it to emergencies and pregnancies, and to eliminate the right to obtain French nationality for children born in France of foreign parents – when they turn 18 if they reside in the country or from 13 if they make the administrative request. It also promises to facilitate and expedite the deportation of foreigners who have committed a crime.

However, Bardella reiterated this Monday that he does not want to be “a collaborator” of President Macron and will only be prime minister if RN obtains an absolute majority in the National Assembly. “I want the power to exercise it. And to exercise it, I need an absolute majority,” he justified. In the event that the extreme right does not obtain an absolute majority but becomes the first parliamentary force, for now it is unknown what form the prime minister will be if Reagrupament resigns and there is no clear alternative majority. It would be an exceptional situation that could lead to a political deadlock.

2024-06-24 13:54:59
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