The French far-right leader says he is “ready” to govern

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella said Monday his party was ready to govern with a pledge to curb immigration and tackle cost-of-living issues ahead of the country’s most contentious elections. country for decades.

“In three words: we are ready,” declared the president of the National Rally (RN), 28, during a press conference.

President Emmanuel Macron plunged France into turmoil by calling early elections after his centrist party was defeated by the far-right National Rally (RN) in a European vote.

Weekend polls show that the RN would collect 35 to 36 percent of voting intentions in the first round on Sunday, ahead of a left-wing alliance with 27 to 29.5 percent and Macron’s centrists in third position with 19.5 at 22 percent.

The telegenic Bardella, recognized for helping the RN restore its extremist image, urged voters to give the eurosceptic party an absolute majority to allow it to implement its anti-immigration and security program.

“Seven long years of macronism have weakened the country,” he said, promising to strengthen purchasing power, restore order and change the law to facilitate the expulsion of foreigners convicted of crimes.

He reiterated his intention to make it more difficult to obtain citizenship for people born on French soil and to reduce “expenditure promoting immigration”.

“The French have not been listened to on this subject for 30 years,” he declared.

Bardella added that the RN would focus on “realistic” measures to curb inflation, mainly by reducing energy taxes.

He also promised a “big bang of authority” in schools, including banning cell phones and experimenting with the introduction of school uniforms, a proposal previously put forward by Macron.

On foreign policy, Bardella said the RN opposed sending French troops to Ukraine – as Macron proposed – but would continue to provide logistical and material support.

He also said his party, which had close ties with Russia before its invasion of Ukraine, would be “extremely vigilant” against attempts by Moscow to interfere in French affairs.

Moscow has been accused of meddling in the 2017 elections that brought Europhile Macron to power.

– “Patriotic and Republican” Party –

The election promises to be a clash between the RN and the left, led by the hard left France Insoumise of veteran incendiary Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Bardella said the RN, which traditional parties have united in the past to try to block, was the “patriotic and republican” choice in the face of what he called anti-Semitism from the left.

The left denies accusations of anti-Semitism but has strongly opposed the war in Gaza.

Macron insisted this weekend that he would finish his term until 2027, defying calls from RN figurehead Marine Le Pen to resign if her party took control of parliament.

Instead, he promised to change course if his centrist alliance won.

“The objective cannot be to continue as things were,” Macron said in an open letter published in French media.

He also tried to prevent the election from turning into a referendum on his controversial leadership style.

The election is “neither a presidential election nor a vote of confidence in the president of the republic,” he maintained.

cb-er/ach