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European elections: French lead candidates promise to break away from European “naivety”

by AI | 15.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Three French lead candidates in the European elections promised on Wednesday to strive to make the EU more energetic in defending its economy.

François-Xavier Bellamy, head of the list of the French right-wing party Les Républicains (LR), speaks in front of representatives of small and medium-sized French businesses as part of the campaign for the European elections on June 9, May 15, 2024 in Puteaux, near Paris. (Photo: Alain JOCARD / AFP)

Puteaux (Hauts-de-Seine, France) – Three French top candidates, Valérie Hayer (Renaissance, centrist), François-Xavier Bellamy (The Republicans, right) and Marie Toussaint (Ecologists) committed on Wednesday to fight the supposed “naivety” of the European Union.

“For a long time, Europe has been far too naïve, too concerned with adhering to its own rules, its competition law,” Valérie Hayer said in front of business leaders gathered at the headquarters of the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME) in Puteaux, near Paris.

Moreover, “our international competitors – China, India, the United States – are accelerating, are ready to do anything to finance their companies, support their production,” continued Mrs. Hayer.

François-Xavier Bellamy also called on Europe to defend its interests, particularly against Beijing. “China today has a strategy of industrial overproduction. I don’t blame it for defending its interests, I blame European leaders for not defending theirs,” he declared. (15.05.2024)