Marine Le Pen's plot to disrupt Ursula von der Leyen's plan for EU integration laid bare

Marine Le Pen's plot to disrupt Ursula von der Leyen's plan for EU integration laid bare

WATCH: Nigel Farage discusses the EU's migration crackdown

GB NEWS
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 16/02/2024

- 10:24

Updated: 16/02/2024

- 10:28

National Rally leader Jordan Bardella promised to become a 'blocking minority' in parliament

Marine Le Pen is eyeing up plans to steer EU policy and block certain pieces of legislation.

This comes amid growing poll ratings for her National Rally party, with polls suggesting it will take more than 30 percent of the French vote at the upcoming European Parliament elections.


This would be an increase of 28 seats from its current position.

Such results would make the party the third biggest group in the European Parliament, behind the European People’s Party and the Socialists and Democrats. This could give them enough sway to disrupt the passage of legislation.

\u200bMarine Le Pen / Von der Leyen

Marine Le Pen is eyeing up plans to try and steer EU policy and block certain pieces of legislation

PA

Last month, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella promised to become a "blocking minority" in parliament.

The European elections could see Eurosceptic parties win the European Parliament elections in nine member states - a worrying development for the EU's leadership.

New polling suggests that anti-EU parties will come second or third in another nine countries.

Pollsters have predicted that the swing towards Eurosceptic parties, which is expected in the EU elections in June, could weaken EU support for Ukraine and net zero targets.

A report by the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank suggests that eurosceptic parties will be the most successful in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia.

The right-wing parties are expected to come second or third in Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.

The report argues that far-right parties will have more involvement in EU decision-making than they have since the European Parliament became directly elected in 1979.

Its authors said the report should "serve as a wake-up call for European policymakers about what is at stake” in the election.

Professor Simon Hix, one of the authors, said: "Against a backdrop of stirring populism, which may reach a new peak with the return of Donald Trump as US president later this year, parties of the political mainstream need to wake up and take clear stock of voter demands.

“They should make clear, on key issues relating to democracy and the rule of law, that it is they, and not those on the political fringes, who are best placed to protect fundamental European rights.”

Von der Leyen

The report's authors said the report should "serve as a wake-up call for European policymakers about what is at stake” in the election

PA

He added: “June’s elections, for those who want to see a more global Europe, should be about safeguarding and enhancing the position of the EU.

"Campaigns should give citizens reason for optimism. They should speak to the benefits of multilateralism."And they should make clear, on key issues relating to democracy and the rule of law, that it is they, and not those on the political fringes, who are best placed to protect fundamental European rights."

Co-author Dr Kevin Cunningham added: "This could have significant implications for the European Commission and Council’s ability to take forward environmental and foreign policy commitments, including the next phase of the European Green Deal."

You may like