The National Rally will abstain in the vote on support for Ukraine, announces its president Jordan Bardella.
For the first time since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron requested a debate with a vote in the National Assembly and the Senate.
The initiative also aims to force oppositions to distance themselves from Moscow.
“I do not want Emmanuel Macron to have a free hand,” justifies Jordan Bardella on France 2. “The RN is in favor of supporting Ukraine but does not wish to go to war with Russia, which is a nuclear power,” he adds.
For him, Emmanuel Macron is engaging in a “dangerous and irresponsible escalation”.
🔴🗣️ INFO: Jordan Bardella announces that the RN will abstain on the text of the France-Ukraine bilateral security agreement: "I do not want Emmanuel Macron to have a free hand. His escalation is dangerous and irresponsible " #Les4V pic.twitter.com/gcQu3PJtly
— Telematin (@telematin) March 12, 2024
Jordan Bardella believes that voting for this text would be a gateway to Ukraine's accession to the EU, a point which will not be debated by parliamentarians.
He also rejects the principle of “active deterrence”, which provides for a duty of assistance between France and Ukraine.
Marine Le Pen will speak in Parliament to defend the position of RN deputies.
Elsewhere in the political class, LFI and the Communist Party are expected to vote against, while Les Républicains, the PS and EELV will vote for.
The debate in Parliament will be limited to the sole bilateral agreement concluded between Paris and kyiv on February 16.
This pact provides in particular “up to 3 billion euros” of additional military aid to Ukraine in 2024, with a strengthening of “cooperation in the field of artillery”.
VIDEO.
Emmanuel Macron calls on Ukraine's allies to "not be cowardly"
Emmanuel Macron caused a stir in the political class by not excluding the sending of “troops” to Ukraine.
“Your children are not going to die in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president assured this Monday, according to the BFMTV translation of an interview he gave to this television channel and to the newspaper Le Monde.
“As long as Ukraine holds, the French army can remain on French territory,” added Volodymyr Zelensky.