Some of the proposals of the far-right National Rally appear to be incompatible with EU rules, while the leftist New Popular Front could give rise to certain tensions with Brussels over budgetary issues included in its program.
Brussels closely follow the french legislative elections. A possible victory of National Group in the second round of the elections on July 7 could cause tremors within the European Union.
Although the extreme right is no longer talking about Frexit or leaving the eurozone, some of the proposals of the far-right National Group son contrary to community regulations.
“Jordan Bardella has announced that, if he were in Government, he would withdraw part of France’s contribution to the European Union budget, so obviously this would call into question France’s commitment“, says Éric Maurice, analyst at the Center for European Politics.
The reform of free movement in the Schengen areawhich the National Group wants restrict European nationalsI would assume another point of contention. “There is also the idea of stricter immigration controls, possibly backed by a referendum to put French law above European law. In that case, we would be in blatant contradiction with European legislation,” says the analyst.
The National Group also proposes a VAT reduction on energyagain incompatible with the rules of the European Union, since these tax decisions must be made unanimously.
Finally, Jordan Bardella wants to review the pension reform adopted by the majority of Emmanuel Macron. And, although the project does not fall within European competence, this reform nevertheless carried the seal of recommendation of the European Commission in order to control the public deficit.
So the National Grouping program would have effects in the EU even in the absence of a ‘Frexit’. “In some ways, it is more perverse than that. It is not an exit from the European Union, but it is a questioning certain European policiesor in any case of France’s participation in European policies or of France’s commitments”, analyzes Éric Maurice.
Without direct questioning on the left, but with certain tensions around the budgets
The left-wing parties, united under the banner of New Popular Front, do not directly question France’s commitment to the Union, according to the analyst. Instead, tensions could arise around budget issues.
“If we look in particular at the economic and social component of this program, the cost has been estimated at around 150,000 or 200,000 million (euro), and here we return to the question of control of the deficit or public debtand therefore of the convergence or divergence of the French economy with the economies of its European partners”, explains Éric Maurice, who also points out that a increase in deficit or the debt would be in contradiction with the Stability Pact.
The European Comissionrecently criticized France and six other Member States for its excessive budget deficits.
According to the analyst, the New Popular Front proposes a review of priorities Union policies, such as “the end of free trade agreements” or a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
