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Europeans: the French Prime Minister faced the far-right favorite

by AI | 24.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

17 days before the European elections, the French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and the far-right favorite Jordan Bardella clashed on Thursday, presenting two irreconcilable visions of Europe.

Jordan Bardella (left), president of the far-right French party National Rally (RN) and its lead candidate in the European elections on June 9, and Gabriel Attal, French Prime Minister, participate in a debate on the French public television channel France 2, on May 23, 2024. (Photo: Thomas SAMSON/POOL/AFP)

Paris – The two ambitious young leaders, 35 years old for the French centrist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 28 years old for the head of the National Rally list (RN, far right), Jordan Bardella, debated on television about Europe, immigration, purchasing power, the war in Ukraine…

Mr. Attal, coming to the rescue of a list in a bad position, accused his opponent of “hating Europe”, “changing his mind on everything.”

A heated exchange took place about Russia. “Your party, that of Mrs. Le Pen and Jean-Marie Le Pen, needed money. Russia needed a party in Europe precisely to weaken Europe from within.” And “although you have repaid your debt, you have a moral contract with them,” in the European Parliament, said the Prime Minister.

“It is beneath the level of the Prime Minister of France to have such low-blow arguments,” responded Mr. Bardella, further accusing President Emmanuel Macron of “playing with fire” by not ruling out sending troops to Ukraine. (23.05.2024)