The far-right National Rally party is leading in the polls ahead of the French elections, and their key policies focus on immigration, Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis. Jordan Bardella, the party leader, aims to drastically reduce immigration by deporting foreign delinquents and implementing an emergency law if his party wins an absolute majority in Parliament. He also wants to change the Aide Médicale d’Etat for undocumented immigrants and reserve strategic job positions for French nationals. Bardella has ruled out providing long-range missiles to Ukraine but aims to help the country defend itself without escalating the conflict.
The cost of living crisis is also a top priority for the National Rally, with plans to lower VAT on electricity and fuel and reduce France’s contribution to the EU budget. Bardella wants to launch negotiations with the European Commission to lower electricity pricing rules, which he believes could reduce bills by 30%. He also intends to conduct an audit of the nation’s accounts to cut government spending that encourages immigration. While the environment and climate crisis are not a primary focus for the RN, Bardella wants to place a moratorium on building wind turbine farms and increase the focus on building nuclear reactors.
In terms of immigration, the National Rally aims to limit movement within the Schengen area to European citizens and prevent migrants from freely moving within the region. Bardella wants to abolish the “droit du sol” in France, which grants citizenship to children born on French soil to foreign parents. He also plans to restrict the access of dual citizens to high-level government positions and change the state-funded medical aid for undocumented immigrants to only cover medical emergencies. The National Rally’s proposals highlight a strict stance on immigration and a focus on securing France’s borders.
Regarding Ukraine, the National Rally supports the country’s right to defend itself but has ruled out providing long-range missiles and weapons capable of striking Russian territory. Bardella has emphasized that his party does not support the deployment of French soldiers or instructors on Ukrainian soil, a notion regularly mentioned by President Macron. The National Rally aims to strike a balance between supporting Ukraine’s defense and avoiding actions that could escalate tensions with Russia, showcasing a cautious approach to international relations.
In response to the cost of living crisis, Bardella plans to lower VAT on essential goods like electricity and fuel, while also reducing France’s contribution to the EU budget. He aims to cut government spending that encourages immigration and conduct an audit of the nation’s accounts to identify areas for savings. By negotiating with the European Commission to waive electricity pricing rules, Bardella believes that bills could be reduced by 30%. While the environment and climate crisis are not central to the RN’s platform, Bardella wants to halt the construction of wind turbine farms and focus on expanding nuclear energy infrastructure. This mix of economic policies reflects the National Rally’s focus on addressing immediate concerns like the cost of living while also prioritizing national energy security.
