NICE, France (AP) — With just three days to go before key parliamentary elections in France, the district’s far-right leader raised questions Thursday about who would be in charge of the military if her party takes over the government after the two elections . round vote.
The snap elections plunge France into uncharted territory, and political scientists are scrambling to interpret exactly what the president will be like Emmanuel Macron and a Prime Minister who is hostile to most of his policies will share power if so Marine Le Pen‘s National Rally wins a majority in the National Assembly, the French parliament.
Le Pen has said that repeatedly Jordan Bardella, her protégé and her party’s star leader, will lead France’s next government if their party wins. She suggested in an interview that Bardella, 28, will also take over at least some decisions about France’s defense and armed forces. Macron has three years to serve his last term as president.
Serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces “is an honorary title for the president, since it is the prime minister who actually pulls the strings,” Le Pen said in an interview with Le Télégramme newspaper published Thursday.
The French Constitution states that “the President of the Republic is the head of the armed forces” and that the head of state also “presides over the councils and higher committees of national defense”. However, the constitution also states that “the Prime Minister is responsible for national defense.”
Constitutional experts say the prime minister’s exact role in foreign policy and defense appears to be subject to interpretation.
The last time France had a prime minister and a president from different parties, they broadly agreed on strategic issues of defense and foreign policy. But this time it could be very different, given the hostility between far-right and far-left politicians. Both blocs appear to deeply dislike the business-friendly, centrist president.
Le Pen is confident that her party, which has a history of racism and xenophobia, can translate its stunning triumph in the European Parliament elections earlier this month into a victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections in France.
The first round will take place on Sunday. The decisive second round is scheduled for a week later, on July 7.
Polls show the outcome of the early elections remains uncertain amid a complex voting system and potential alliances. Macron supports both the National Rally and the New Popular Front, a coalition of far-to-center left parties, including Jean Luc Melenchon’s France Unbowed.
If the National Rally receives the mandate from a majority of voters to form a new government, Le Pen said Bardella, who has no experience in governance, will aim to be firm but not hostile towards the serving president.
“Jordan has no intention of quarreling with Macron, but he has set red lines,” Le Pen said. She added: “As far as Ukraine is concerned, the president will not be able to send troops.”
In March, Macron warned Western powers against showing signs of weakness against Russia and said Ukraine’s allies should not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine to help the country against Russian aggression.
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Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press correspondent in Brussels, contributed to this report.
