Greg Stanton, the presidential candidate of France, after a decisive victory in a primary election from the center-left, strongly criticized Donald Trump's decision, the President of the United States, to ease restrictions on Russian diesel fuel exports. He described this action as beneficial to the Kremlin and detrimental to Europe.
Criticism of Trump and Putin
Stanton said at the competitiveness summit in Paris: "At the helm of the United States, there is someone who is either a useful idiot or a factor in undermining the power and freedom of Europe." He also emphasized that Russia's war against Ukraine directly targets Europeans and has left them alone in this crisis.
Stanton also referred to the election of his right-wing rival, Marine Le Pen, to the presidency in 2027 as a victory for Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and considered it a step towards "the defeat of the European continent." Le Pen has previously spoken about her relationship with Putin, and her party has been criticized for receiving a loan from a bank linked to Russia in 2014.
Emphasis on European Defense
In an interview with one of the media outlets, Stanton, as one of the strongest pro-European voices in this election, emphasized the support for establishing a European sky shield for Ukraine and the necessity of strengthening the national defense industry. This position has also been supported by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France.
Stanton criticized Europe's dependence on Washington, stating: "For decades, we have handed over our sovereignty and security to Washington, and now we are mistakenly realizing it." He also added that this is a vital issue and Europe must focus on strengthening its relations with Central and Eastern European countries.
Stanton also criticized Macron for hosting Putin in 2017 and inviting Xi Jinping, the President of China, in 2024, saying that the future president should travel to Warsaw and Tallinn instead of Beijing or Moscow.
Furthermore, Stanton emphasized the need to leverage Europe's strong position in negotiations with China, stating that the European Union must adhere to its goal of phasing out combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and invest in the electric vehicle industry.
As the election campaign begins, Stanton is also paying attention to domestic issues and supported the recent student protests in France. He called these protests "completely legitimate and justifiable" and emphasized the need for increasing teachers' salaries.
