Le Rassemblement national part en guerre contre le Conseil constitutionnel et Richard Ferrand

French Presidential Election 2027: Laure Lavalette (RN) Faces Scrutiny Over Aid to Ukraine Marine Le Pen, the leading candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, has outlined her stance on European policy, including reducing France’s financial contributions to the EU budget and ending financial aid to Ukraine after six months of her presidency. This proposal has drawn criticism, particularly from within her own party, as one of its spokespersons, Laure Lavalette, appeared uncertain about the specifics of the aid program during recent interviews. During an appearance on Franceinfo, Lavalette was asked about military support for Ukraine and responded that the international affairs were "the domain of the President." She suggested that providing additional military equipment might still be possible, saying, "The door is not closed." Earlier, during an interview with RMC, she struggled to provide the exact amount of aid currently being given to Ukraine, eventually stating, "About 8 billion euros." According to the Kiel Institute, France has spent 26.9 billion euros since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with 7.9 billion allocated directly to Ukraine and 19 billion through European Union contributions. Lavalette defended the proposed cut, citing France's strained financial situation, stating, "We can no longer financially help Ukraine. That does not mean we will not help them in other ways." She emphasized belief in the Russian threat but did not elaborate further. Criticism of Le Pen's proposal came from Gabriel Attal, the former prime minister and candidate for Renaissance, who accused her of allowing Ukrainians to be "killed." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Le Pen's lack of understanding of the details surrounding the aid, stating in the Financial Times that "Madame Le Pen does not master certain details well." He argued that cooperation with Ukraine would benefit France, especially in terms of technological advancements in weaponry. Sebastien Chenu, a vice-president of the National Rally, defended Le Pen against Zelensky's remarks, calling them "condescending," and noted that Le Pen had promised to maintain training, humanitarian aid, and material assistance for six months. Chenu argued that France's economy is nearing collapse and that the country could no longer afford to support Ukraine financially, emphasizing the need to stabilize public finances before considering foreign aid. Chenu criticized Zelensky for his comments, suggesting that he should not show such condescension toward Le Pen, who he claimed was not acting treacherously. He also criticized President Macron for not taking initiative towards peace, arguing that France's economic crisis would soon make the issue of aiding Ukraine irrelevant. President Macron himself addressed the issue, stating that cutting aid to Ukraine would risk "passing overboard the security" of Europeans and French citizens. He expressed surprise at the "lack of humility" shown by some candidates who spoke as if already in office. The debate over France's role in supporting Ukraine continues to intensify as the 2027 presidential campaign gains momentum, with each candidate presenting their vision for the country's future and its responsibilities on the global stage.