Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Failing to get a majority in France, the country's biggest far-right party is looking to make
00:06an impact on the European level.
00:09The new Patriots for Europe group was formed a week ago after the Identity and Democracy
00:13group disbanded.
00:15And France's national rally hasn't just joined the new camp, it's taken control.
00:19I must excuse Jordan Bardella's absence.
00:24He's been elected president of this group and this is an honour for the French camp
00:29and our 30 members of the European Parliament.
00:33That's the largest delegation in the group, which itself is now third in the European
00:36Parliament, ahead of the European Conservatives and Reformists, with 84 MEPs.
00:42The national rally's 28-year-old leader will preside over a coalition that includes parties
00:46from across the continent, such as Hungary's Fidesz, Italy's Lega and Spain's Vox.
00:53But the French party's move now raises questions over its stance on the war in Ukraine.
00:58Throughout his legislative campaigning, Jordan Bardella repeatedly stated that he backed
01:02armed support for Kiev.
01:05I support Ukraine, support deliveries to help the country defend itself.
01:08I want to provide ammunition as well as logistical and operational aid, weapons to help them
01:14hold on strong on the front line.
01:16But by joining the group, France's far-right party is aligning itself with Hungary's Viktor
01:20Orban, who's known for his pro-Russian stance and for blocking EU aid initiatives for Ukraine.