Nathalie Loiseau, head of the Committee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament and former Minister for European Affairs. Tyzhden discussed with her the issues of foreign interference in the presidential campaign in France, the likelihood of centrists uniting to win the elections, and the positions of leading candidates on supporting Ukraine.
– Recently, the European Union imposed sanctions on Kremlin propagandist Ksenia Fedorova, who for some time led the RT branch in France. Thus, Brussels confirmed the French sanctions against this individual. However, the French channel Cnews continues to feature Fedorova on their broadcasts as if nothing happened. What can you say about this situation as an initiator of sanctions against the propagandist?
– I am pleased that the European Union added Ksenia Fedorova to the list of sanctioned individuals. She fully deserved to be on that list long ago. The fact that CNews is turning her into an icon raises questions. What bug bit this channel that they are giving so much space to deceitful Russian propaganda?
– These days, the far-right political party “National Assembly” issued a statement condemning foreign interference and emphasizing the importance of the Russian threat. This sharply contrasts with their usual stance on this issue. A split identity in the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde model? What does this statement say about the strategy of the “National Assembly” for 2027?
– On this matter, as with all others, the “National Assembly” tries to muddle the waters. The party condemns foreign interference only when it can no longer be denied. But this political force never supported any sanctions against Moscow, consistently opposed combating Kremlin interference on a European level, even very recently. The “National Assembly” has deputies who staunchly support Russia and claims it will stop supporting Ukraine if it comes to power. No press release can hide the depth of the “National Assembly’s” complacency regarding Putin’s Russia. To hope otherwise is to take the French for fools.
– How do you evaluate the words of the communist and presidential candidate Fabien Roussel regarding France’s policy towards Moscow: “Our actions seem to prolong the war”?
– I am shocked by what I heard from Roussel. The Communist Party should not forget: it was the only French party that voted against the Munich Agreement of 1938, condemning the capitulation to Hitler, before unfortunately supporting the German-Soviet pact, which hastened the start of World War II. It was also the party of remarkable Resistance Movement fighters against Nazi Germany, before turning a blind eye to the horrors of Stalinism. Let’s be serious! How can one call themselves leftist and show no respect for the victims of aggression? How can one be a journalist, like Fabien Roussel, and spread false propaganda about NATO’s responsibility for starting the large-scale war in 2022? This deeply outrages me.
– What do you think of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s statements about the reasons for Russian attacks, which, in his opinion, are provoked by Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territories?
– Was the skirt too short? Should a country under attack refrain from defending against the aggressor and have no choice but to capitulate? Were Ukrainian drones the ones that halted Vladimir Putin’s peace aspirations? What cynicism, what shame! However, none of this is surprising, considering it’s about Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Let’s remember he applauded the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and wrote terrible things about Ukraine. In my opinion, his position completely discredits him.
– You support the presidential candidate, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, who recently stated that “too many candidates” at the end of the election campaign “will lead to a fragmentation of votes and, therefore, a risk that Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon end up in the second round.” Are you hoping for the unification of the “centrist camp” by May 2027?
– There’s no way we can let our country fall into the hands of an extremist party, which would doom it to division and decline. The risk is high, but it is not inevitable. It’s entirely normal for many candidates to wish to run. This is the beauty of our democracy, a chance many oppressed peoples dream of. But at some point, seriousness and responsibility must prevail. There’s a risk that the second round will feature two extremist candidates from pro-Russian, anti-Semitic parties. This risk is too great to allow a fragmentation of votes among prudent French citizens. Week by week, public opinion polls show that Édouard Philippe is the only moderate candidate capable of reaching the second round. He calls for unity. I believe it would be wise to listen to him.
– What are the main aspects of Édouard Philippe’s program?
– Édouard Philippe firmly believes that France has everything it needs to succeed, but it currently requires significant changes. Our budget deficit and national debt require us to tidy up our finances. Otherwise, we risk facing a financial crisis that would primarily hit the poorest. We must agree to work a little more to sustain our social system. We also aim to revive high-quality schooling by raising teachers’ salaries, placing more responsibility on parents, and giving educational institutions more freedom. We want to continue strengthening our defense efforts to deter any threats against us. We seek decisive action to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to them. We also support the European Union, as it is essential to face the major challenges of our time. If I had to summarize Édouard Philippe’s program in one sentence, I would say it focuses on the future of our children and the France we will leave as their legacy.
– Frozen Russian assets, protection of Ukrainian airspace – what will be the main directions of Édouard Philippe’s policy towards Ukraine?
– Édouard Philippe is firmly determined not only to continue but also to strengthen France’s support for Ukraine. He supports using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression. Ukraine has the right, in due course, to receive compensation from Russia for military damages. We, as Europeans, have the right to provide her with part of these funds in advance, as 210 billion of Russian assets are frozen on our territory. Ukraine needs this now, not in 5 or 10 years. It is quite clear that, since the Russian army is stalled on the eastern front in Ukraine, it is striking the rear. We must protect the Ukrainian airspace in regions where civilians live. We have done this in the Gulf countries, in Israel, and this did not make us parties to the conflict. Finally, when peace becomes a reality, we must provide Ukraine with sufficient security guarantees. Among these guarantees, NATO membership should no longer be dismissed – on the contrary.
In the thumbnail: Nathalie Loiseau in the National Assembly. Photo: Aline Le Bail-Kremer
