Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader of France, announced her plan to reduce the size and power of the European Union at a press conference in Brussels. She stated that if she wins next year's presidential election, she will turn the European Union into a 'secretariat' that serves the member countries.
Criticism of the Current Situation
Le Pen said at the meeting: 'Over the past 10 years, France has witnessed the implementation of a European vision that is exactly the opposite of what I support.' She criticized the rise of Europe and the weakening of national sovereignty, adding: 'They wanted a powerful Europe, but we ended up with a powerless Europe. They wanted European sovereignty, but what we got was a weakening of national sovereignty.'
Reduction of France's Financial Contribution to the EU
Le Pen, who is leading the election to succeed Emmanuel Macron, announced last week that her party will unilaterally reduce France's annual contribution to the EU budget by €11.1 billion. This decision, according to her, is necessary to improve France's public finances, as she has proposed savings of €140 billion by 2032.
However, her critics believe that this action could lead to serious tensions with Brussels and may result in France's exit from the bloc. Le Pen has made these proposals while some economic experts have warned about the negative consequences of these policies.
She has also called on her right-wing allies in Europe to join her and support the changes she envisions. Her statements came after meeting with other European right-wing leaders in Brussels.
Possible Consequences
Analysts believe that if Le Pen follows through on her promises, France's relations with other EU member countries could be severely affected. They are also concerned that these changes may lead to further weakening of Europe and increased tensions among member countries.
The French presidential election is set to take place in 2024, and Le Pen is currently one of the leading candidates. She hopes that by implementing these plans, she can garner more support from voters.
