A mess in France: The popular Marine Le Pen did a surprising trick

French politics is in turmoil. Contrary to popular expectation Marine Le Pen it’s like running for the presidency for the fourth time.

The long-time leader of the far-right National Alliance was supposed to be forced to abandon his presidential aspirations and pass the baton on to his party’s young promise Jordan Bardellalle.

However, that did not happen after some surprising twists. The Paris Court of Appeal issued a decision on Tuesday that shortened Le Pen’s electoral ban last year. However, it upheld Le Pen’s conviction for misuse of European Parliament funds.

Le Pen announced on Tuesday evening that she intends to appeal the sentence to the French Supreme Court. The appeal will allow him to campaign without an ankle bracelet, as appeals suspend the execution of sentences under French criminal law.

However, the new trial may come in the middle of his presidential campaign. The first round of the French presidential election will be held on April 18, 2027.

Warm intervals, but differences in emphasis

Le Pen and Bardella are both popular politicians. Whichever one of them would have run for office would in all probability have made it to the second round of the election.

However, the two have differences in emphasis. Bardella is considered to be more market-friendly than Le Pen, to drive a more realistic European policy and to be more capable of compromises.

Bardella, 30, on the other hand, is still young and relatively inexperienced in politics. He is not as well known as Le Pen, who has already been the presidential candidate of his party three times.

In the European Union, the idea of ​​a France led by the far right arouses fear. France is a major political force in the EU, and the National Alliance has a long tradition of Euro-criticism. However, the party is no longer pushing for France’s exit from the EU.

In Ukraine, there is concern about what the National Coalition’s election victory would mean for Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations and the continuation of EU arms aid.

In Brussels, many would have considered Bardella Le Pen as a more desirable candidate. It has been hoped in the EU cabinets that he would become Italy Giorgia Melonin like a real politician with whom you can cooperate.

Bardella is Le Pen’s protégé. Le Pen said Tuesday night on French television that Bardella is involved in her campaign. If Le Pen wins, Bardella will be made Prime Minister of France.

France is the only nuclear weapon state in the European Union and also a political power. That is why the result of the presidential election matters in Finland as well.

Who is Marine Le Pen?

The 57-year-old politician has succeeded his father Jean-Marie Le Penin from the shadow to the strong woman of the far right. He is a long-term member of the French National Assembly and MEP.

In addition to the embezzlement conviction, Le Pen’s reputation is weighed down by warm relations with Russia. On the eve of the 2017 presidential election, for example, he traveled to Moscow to shake hands Vladimir Putin. Many interpreted the rapture as her seeking Putin’s support for her campaign.

Le Pen’s cross is also her father’s political legacy. Many French people remember the late Jean-Marie Le Pen’s anti-Semitic and racist comments.

In politics, Marine Le Pen is critical of immigration and nationalist. According to him, French citizens should have priority in housing policy and social security.

In economic policy, he supports “rational protectionism” and a strong state.

The World -lehden according to Le Pen is now trying to build an image of herself as a politician who has been treated unfairly, but who has survived adversity and returned to the arena like a phoenix bird.

Impact on the ECB as well

In France, the question now is whether the political center can gather its strength during the elections and get behind a strong candidate.

Otherwise, the threat is that in the second round of the presidential election, the far-right Marine Le Pen and the far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchonwhich is popular especially among young people.

The French elections may also have an impact on the European Central Bank. Its French CEO Christine Lagarde has announced that he may leave his post prematurely in order to participate in the elections.

However, Lagarde did not elaborate of Les Echos magazine in the interview, how he would participate in the elections, as a candidate or as a supporter.

Lagarde is the former managing director of the International Monetary Fund and the former finance minister of France. He has also served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister of Foreign Trade. He represented the center-right UMP party, which has since changed its name to Republicans.